Although some say fishing is down in Gull Lake this year, a good number of fish were caught for the annual Monkey Top Saloon fish derby on January 24. Sixty-five registrants caught 54 fish in the catch-and-release contest.
Adventure Fishing Huts donated the registration hut. Jim (the fish whisperer) and Tammy Flanders did the weighing and releasing of the fish.
The prize for catching the most fish went to Mel Barred.
The prize for the biggest perch caught went to Tyson Andersen and Jerad Heinzia who both had eleven ounce catches.
For his 3 lb. 2 oz. whitefish, Ryan Rempfer won.
The biggest ling cod was won by Dave Fever with a 7 lb. 4 oz. catch. He also won the biggest pike with his 9 lb. 2 oz. catch.
"It was a good day with fun and laughs," said Monkey Top owner Becky Kasparsons.
They are now readying for their next event - the annual February Sled / Quad Rally. "It has been delayed to February 28 in hopes of a dump of snow," said Kasparsons, who knows more snow means more entries.
People can get more information by contacting the Monkey Top Saloon.
It appears the sled rally organizers got their wish of more snow at the end of January and the start of February when the landscape went from shades of brown to pristine, deep white in a matter of a few hours.