Record-breaking temperatures on Saturday brought a record-breaking crowd out to the 31st Annual Fishing Contest on Maple Lake.
The event, sponsored by the Maple Lake High School Athletic Association, was originally set for January 22, but the first big snowfall of the winter and frigid temperatures caused organizers to reschedule the event to February 5. And on a day featuring 50+ temperatures, the result couldn’t have been better.
“We ran out of everything,” said MLHS Activities Director Dave Schroeder, who said that nearly all the concession items were sold out and contest volunteers had to run to the school to produce more tickets for the estimated 500 to 600 anglers who created a mini-city just off the public beach on Maple Lake. Schroeder said a final talley of ticket receipts hasn’t been completed, but he estimated gross sales of $5,600 should result in a record contribution to MLHS athletic programs.
In the contest for hauling in the largest game fish, the Maple Lake sister-brother duo of Stacey and Mike Paumen won the top two prizes with northerns weighing 6.67 lbs., and 5.08 lbs., respectively. In third place was Jake Braun of Elk River with a 4.98 lb. northern. Winning the prize for the largest pan fish was Cody Johnson of Monticello with an .87 lb. crappie.
Plaques were awarded to Anthony Jones of Pasadena, California for coming to the contest from the greatest distance, to Fran Pribyl as the oldest fisherman, and to nine-month-old Aliya Crane as the youngest. Trevor Fasching of Howard Lake won the top drawing prize of $300, Doug Mavencamp of Maple Lake won $200 and Mark Fobbe of Maple Lake won $100.
Be the first to comment