Ice Fisherman compete at Lake Gogebic

By TOM STANKARD

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Bergland - AJ's Walleye Lodge Bait and Tackle hosted its seventh annual ice fishing tournament on Lake Gogebic Saturday and Sunday.

Ice fishing enthusiasts came from across the midwest and beyond to take part and fish with their friends. During the tournament, ice fishing tents were scattered across the body of water. Inside the tents, fisherman carved holes in the ice using augers and dropped their line hoping to catch the big one.

Sitting by a hole he made, Steve Waara, of Negaunee, said he was having fun fishing.

Throughout the two-day tournament, Waara said he reeled in several smaller fish, but is going to "leave the bigger ones for next year."

Waara said he likes to go ice fishing because he spends time with his friends.

"I like the camaraderie," he said.

With minutes to spare before the tournament ended, Brian Mohr, of Green Bay, Wis., brought in a perch to be measured and weighed by lodge owner Jim Eismueller.

Eismueller said Mohr's perch measured 13 inches and weighed 1 pound.

Fish were categorized according to type of fish and whether the fisherman was an adult or youth. There was an adult walleye and an adult perch category. For youth, there was a walleye category.

After Eismueller measured and weighed all the fish, he announced the winners during a celebration party at a nearby bar.

In the adult walleye category, Ron Egler placed first, Todd Borseth came in second and Jordan Kudy got third place.

For the adult perch category, Rayan placed first. Mohr came in second place and Karen Yablonski got third place.

In the youth walleye category, Brennen Peotter got first place, Mia Neuport placed second and Landon Cole got third place.

Eismueller said he was pleased with the turnout this year and said everyone had fun.

"Everybody had fun fishing," he said. "Whoever wins is just bonus. The catch was good. It was all big fish."