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The
Friday night meeting was a superb mix of worship and fellowship
accompanied by the “first tournament of the season” jitters.
While waiting for the meal to begin, the angler’s took advantage
of a raffle drawing for a Falcon fishing valued at $110 and gift
certificate for a Pflueger President bait caster valued at $140.
Both items were graciously donated by Apple River Sports located
at the junction of Hwy 8 and 46 North of Amery, WI. After a word
of prayer, the angler’s were hosted to an enjoyable meal of hot
dogs, sloppy Joes, beans, and chips by the gracious staff of
Pepin
United
Methodist
Church
. Pastor Paul Langomade of
Anchor
Point
Church
presented the anglers the message of the evening. Pastor Paul
spoke of the material anchors in our lives from sports to the
ever-popular television remote control, but it didn’t take long
for him to point out that the true Anchor in our lives should be
God. After Pastor Paul’s brilliant message, we had 10
recommitments to the Lord of the 80 people in attendance.
The
next morning,
Lake
Pepin
had become a different body of water as compared to the calm
Friday pre-fish. Some might say that Pastor Paul’s message on
anchors had some what of a different spin. The winds had picked up
over night and was gusting a good 20 plus miles per hour at dawn,
but the determined anglers were not going to let this stop their
first tournament of the season. The 37 teams blasted off at 6:30
a.m. amidst the rough swells of the lake. With winds gusting in
the 25 – 30 mile range by midday, most of the teams reported
fishing off the main channel in the backwaters of the
Mississippi River
. At the end of the day with the wind strong enough to blow over
the score board.
In
1st place was the Sheels team of Mike McEvoy and Pat Schlapper
that found the 5 fish winning bag of 16.34 lbs. It was reported
that they began the day throwing spinner baits and landed a 3 –
lber within the last 10 minutes of the tournament to push them
into the lead. For their efforts they were awarded with the first
place purse of $1,066 and trophies.
The
team of Preston Johnson and Steve Crotteau were hot on the
winner’s heals with 5 fish weighing 16 lbs. Johnson and Crotteau
also won first place in the bonus bucks which rounded their
winnings for the blustery day to $824 plus trophies.
Third
place went to the team of Dean Capra and Pat Martin who also
entered into the bonus bucks pot. Capra and Martin’s 5 fish
weight was 15.86 lbs, which earned them $601 for the day.
Fourth
place went to the team of Mark Meyers and Jon Blood. Who also took
the last bonus bucks spot for the day. Their 5 fish bag weighed in
at 15.73 lbs, which was good for $490.
Fifth
place for day went to Dave Sedani and Dan Meyer. The second big
fish of the tournament at 4.05 lbs anchored their fifth place bag
of 5 fish of 15.63 lbs, which was good enough for $481.
Sixth
place went to the father and son team of Michael and Steve Hansen
with a 5 fish bag weighing in at 15.44 lbs, which earned them $266
on the day.
The
last money spot of the day went to the team of Bob Allen and
Nathan Whiting. Allen and Whiting brought in 5 fish weighing 14.95
lbs which was good enough for $200.
The
big fish of the tournament, a 4.40 lber, went to the team of Rob
Keller and Steve Bahls. It was good for $222.
Come
join us on May 19 when we do it again on
Lake
Wissota
. 6pm meeting at Mouldy’s Bait & Tackle in
Chippewa Falls
,
WI
. Go to www.WIFOM.com for all
the details.
I
owe a big thanks to all who made this event possible: Our heavenly
Father, the National sponsors: Triton
Boats, Mercury, Shakespeare, All Star Rods, Pflueger, Strike King
Lure Company, XTools, Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits,
Keelshield, MotorGuide, SOSPENDERS,Marshall’s Marine Lake City
SC, Kistler, All-Terrain Tackle, Dual Pro Charger, Lowrance,
Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Deka Marine Master Batteries,
Spike-It, Jacobs Glass, Motorguide, Hooah Energy Bars, Poor Boys
Baits, T&H Marine, BASS Rx, Keep Alive, MG Lures, Apple River
Sports, Badger State Taxidermy, G-Loc Lures, Stamina Quality
Components, Mouldy’s Bait & Tackle, the Pepin United
Methodist Church and its members, Alan Park, The Bosshardt family,
Pastor Paul Langomade, and most of all the anlgers who braved the
winds and stayed true to the cause.
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