Advertisement

70th Annual Ice Fisheree a huge success, participation up

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

The Harvey boys, Penn and Corbin of Prairie du Chien, enjoy a nice day of ice fishing on Gremore Lake Saturday as part of the 70th Ice Fisheree. Penn and Corbin are the sons of Chance and Heather Harvey. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)

Isaac Zurcher of Farmersburg happily holds up the 2.99-pound largemouth bass he hauled in Saturday morning during the annual Ice Fisheree.

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Several factors combined to make the 70th Prairie du Chien Ice Fisheree one of the best ever.

“It was crazy. It was really good. They had a good turnout for fishing,” said Paul DeVoss, the owner of the Crooked Oar Bar on County K where the fisheree was headquartered.

DeVoss credited great fishing on Gremore Lake in the weeks leading up to the big event as one of the main reasons why there were so many enthusiastic fishermen, women and children Saturday and Sunday. During the past several weeks, hard water anglers have been catching lots of big largemouth bass, northern pike, walleyes and panfish on Gremore Lake. DeVoss said relatively mild temperatures this past weekend, and the fact that a tagged fish worth $6,000 was caught at last year’s fisheree, also helped to draw people out this year.

“Everyone had fun and most people were doing well,” said DeVoss about this year’s event. DeVoss noted that Fillback Automotive had some vehicles on display that drew a lot of interest and Muddy Minnow Bait of McGregor had a trailer in back of the Crooked Oar that did outstanding business throughout the fisheree. In fact, Muddy Minnow Bait, owned and operated by Brian Kimball, was so popular that it ran out of bait later on Saturday so they went and got more. It was the first year Muddy Minnow was at the Ice Fisheree, and it was a great beginning to perhaps a nice, long relationship.

DeVoss said the tiki bar on the deck in back also was a popular hangout, along with all of the activity inside the Crooked Oar.

“Everybody did really well this year,” said DeVoss.

Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce Director, Bob Moses, said the number of anglers participating in the fisheree was up 25 percent from last year. He said there were 540 adults and more than 50 children partaking.

“The crowd was so positive and upbeat, and we got great feedback on the door prizes,” said Moses, who also noted the Kids’ Expo from 11-12:30 on Saturday went over well. “There were 15 kids and their parents there for hard-to-learn (fishing) tricks and trades,” he said.

Moses said he would like to thank all of the supporters of the Ice Fisheree over the last 70 years.

Adult Results

Fishing registrations for the 70th Annual Fisheree were held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1 and 2. Those attending had a good time and several prizes were awarded.  Prize winners were are follows:

Walleye/Sauger - 1st, Aiden Marten, 4.68 pounds; 2nd, Bob Titlbach, 4.47; 3rd, Jerry Ward, 4.41

Northern Pike - 1st, Shaun Straka, 15.38; 2nd Ryan Lange, 11.30; 3rd, Daniel Cawell, 10.68

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass - 1st, Ray Peterson, 6.03; 2nd, Ray Konnichek, 4.85; 3rd, Anthony Kilian, 4.80

Yellow Perch - 1st, Jeff Scherf, 1.32; 2nd, Tom Bennett, 1.10; 3rd, Nick Crary, 1.04

Sunfish - 1st, Charlie Feller, .70; 2nd, Ken Miller, Jr., .68; 3rd, Kris Eulberg, .67

Crappie - 1st Joe Sagebarth, 1.75; 2nd, Brett Bayler, 1.48; 3rd, Chris Jensen, 1.42

The winner of the grand prize CF MOTO 500 ATV, sponsored by Prairie Motor Sports, Fillback Automotive and the PdC Ice Fisheree Committee, was Dan Klendworth of Walker, Iowa.

Participants in this year’s fisheree were eligible to win several Cabela’s Gift Cards compliments of Cabela’s. Randy Christenson, Cabela’s event coordinator, awarded Cabela’s gift cards to the following: $500 - Brian Barnett; $200 -  Jim Olson of Sun Prairie, Wis.;$100 -  Jesse Miller, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; $100 - Corbin Harvey, Prairie du Chien; and $100 -  Jeremy Mercury.

Children’s Results

Walleye/Sauger - 1st, Nichols McCullich, 5.08 pounds; 2nd, Abby Bronner, 4.32; 3rd, Tucker Youngblut, 1.90

Northern Pike - 1st, Dylan Baker, 9.81; 2nd, Carson Eckert, 6.72; 3rd, Anneka Engebre, 6.12

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass - 1st, Greyson Foster, 3.76; 2nd, Abby Bronner, 3.72; 3rd, Dylan Baker, 3.59

Yellow Perch - 1st, Greyson Foster, 1.12; 2nd, Ava Foster, 1.12; 3rd, Capri Davis, .93

Sunfish - 1st, Landon Roe, .53; 2nd, Isaac Zurcher, .49; 3rd, Nolan Kolker, .48

Crappie - 1st, Camille Davis, 1.09; 2nd, Landon Roe, .78; 3rd, Tavin Bomkamp, .66

Bob Moses said that all of the businesses that donated prizes to the fisheree are greatly appreciated. 

The 70th Annual Fisheree was sponsored by the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, Cabela’s, Fillback Automotive, Prairie Motor Sports, the Crooked Oar Bar and Marina, Stark’s Sport Shop and Supreme Graphics.

 

Rate this article: 
No votes yet