Walleyes unlimited holding annual banquet Saturday

Press release

New surprises are surfacing along with Fresno Walleye’s favorite games, raffles and drawings, which will again award hundreds of sponsored prizes worth thousands of dollars during the group’s annual Walleye Banquet docking at the Havre Ice Dome April 20.

The 39th Annual Fresno Walleyes Banquet doors will open at 4:30 p.m. The fun begins with the silent and live auctions, games and drawings, and visiting with the friendliest freshwater fishing enthusiasts around. This event will reel guests in from all over the state, year after year. The Havre Ice Dome is located at 2585 5th Ave. SE. For more information call, Mike Barthel 406-390-2449 or President Elect, Caleb Young, 406-390-5608.

The smoke-free banquet features all-you-can-eat secret batter walleye, baron of beef and all the baits to ready you for an evening of winning entertainment as guests play games for smokers, TV’s, patio and fishing packages, barbecue grills and home furnishings, guns, fine jewelry, custom built fishing rods, knives and so many other treasurers.

“There are always so many donated prizes, from guns to trips, jewelry to home furnishings, that could go home with you. They are going home with somebody,” Fresno Walleyes Club President Mike Barthel said.

Saturday will be the first drawing for the Fresno Chapters Annual 30 Gun Raffle. The first gun will be given away the night of the banquet and then one per day for the next 29 days. Only 499 were sold and the final ticket is going to be auctioned off at the banquet and before the first draw.

Banquet tickets went on sale in February and are still available through Havre Rental (265-8841), Bing ’N’ Bob’s Sports Shop (265-6124) and Sinclair Station (265-3441) in Havre; at The Walleye Tavern (located on U.S. Highway 2 at Fresno Reservoir) and in Big Sandy from Ezzies Conoco (378-2101).

Funds raised from the annual banquet support the chapter’s numerous improvement projects throughout the year that include projects at Fresno Reservoir, Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir, improvements at Baileys Reservoir, and a web cam at Fresno Reservoir.

“Our cause is your cause — better fishing and greater recreational opportunities,” Barthel said. “Money raised at our banquet is spent locally to enhance recreation and warm water fishing in northern Montana for residents and visitors alike.

“Thanks to the past support of so many, we have been able to build and maintain a number of amenities at Fresno Reservoir like the campground, pavilion, boat ramps and picnic tables, which are open to the public free of charge,” he continued. “We are also able to give college scholarships, treat area fifth and sixth graders to our annual Kids Education Day, complete with boat rides, new fishing poles and lunch, and host our annual Kids Fun Fishing Day at Fresno with lunch and prizes.

“We have been able to provide financial support to the St. Mary’s Working Group, pay for garbage services at Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir and Fresno Reservoir, and host the Fresno Challenge fishing tournament,” Barthel added. “We are able to maintain and upgrade the best web cam in the State of Montana at Fresno Reservoir (www. fresnowalleyes .com). A few months ago, when there was ice, the Fresno Chapter teamed up with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to distribute Christmas trees around Fresno Reservoir for fish habitat. This year alone, over 400 trees were distributed around Fresno with the hopes that this will become great habitat for perch and other bait fish to raise their young.”

A big thank you to Fresno Chapter Board members who donated their time, vehicles, tools, and trailers, Barthel said. Home Depot and Ace Hardware in Great Falls donated many of the 400 trees. In addition, the City of Havre donated a dumpster and a location for storage of the trees before they could be transported to Fresno.

“Thank you to the City of Havre. Thanks to all the great people of Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy and Box Elder that donated trees for this project”, said Barthel. We have been able to make this an annual project and this project is paying off.”

April 11, at a Fresno Dam meeting with BOR and FWP, local FWP Biologist Cody Nagel described some of the best net results in many years for all fish species in Fresno. He reported that there were high numbers of walleye (18- to 22-inch fish), perch, pike and crappie that were found in Fresno during the August 2023 sampling. Nagel reported that the fish are nice and healthy.

Due to the dam construction and expected water drawdowns this fall, (anticipating late August), “Get out there and catch some fish before the drawdown,” said Barthel.

Along with all the projects noted above, one of the club’s great accomplishments is being able to provide new rods and reels for every child who attended the Kids Education Day and Kids Fun Fishing Day.

“Last year we gave away 290 rods and reels, and we expect over 300 kids this year. This event has been made possible in the past because of the cash contributions from BNSF, NorthWestern Energy and Triangle Telephone. Walmart has made a yearly cash donation that has earmarked funds for the kid’s day event. Thank you to all those who support the next generation of fishing enthusiasts. Getting kids hooked on fishing and the outdoors is our main goal,” said Barthel. “And a big thank you to all the local school district administrators for allowing this to happen.”

With continued support from the public and business donors, the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has been one of the most successful service clubs in the state. At one time, the Fresno Chapter was the leading chapter for members enrolled in Walleyes Unlimited.

“So, this year, look for the membership table at the Havre Ice Dome and a membership drive,” Barthel said. “For those that register the night of the banquet, a special cash prize is going to be awarded to a lucky member. As a member, you will receive Fishtails Magazine, a magazine devoted to the fishing enthusiast.

“We just can’t thank the wonderful businesses and contributors in Havre and the surrounding communities. The Fresno Chapter wouldn’t exist without the wonderful generosity and continued support,” Barthel added.

The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited is a 501C3 nonprofit organization, making all donations tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to Fresno Walleyes at P.O. Box 1501, Havre, MT 59501.

Fresno Chapter Calendar for 2024

Saturday, April 20 — Fresno Banquet, Havre Ice Dome

Thursday, May 9 — Fresno Kids’ Education Day, Fresno Reservoir and Pavilion

Friday and Saturday, June 7-8 — Fresno Challenge, Tournament Headquarters @ Fresno Pavilion

Sunday, June 9 — Fresno Kids’ Fun Fishing Day, Fresno Reservoir & Pavilion

July-August 2024, take a kid fishing!