Diamond Willow's Kids Fishing Tourney was today.

It was a nice day for a kids tourney, a little windy but it was warm for the last day of January. There were 34 kids and 22 adults that hit the ice this afternoon.

Now I really like going to fishing tournaments, I have had a lot of fun and really have done quite well over the years. I have finished 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15, 17, 22, but it wasn't until I was 53 years old that I finally won the prize for the biggest fish. And then I had to go all the way to Great North Lodge on Jan Lake in Sask., Canada.

Well, today Jason(my son-in-law) and the boys met me at Ft. Thompson for the afternoon. Caleb and Levi have gone icefishing a grand total of say 3 times and had never caught a fish thru the ice.
The tourney today ended at 5:00pm but we had sat there all afternoon without even a nibble. The boys sure have a lot of patience though. Around 4:30 I saw one of the rods had a bite, Jason ran over, but it was too late, the fish had stolen his minnow. Then another rod started bouncing up and down, but all I had was a bare hook. Jason and I headed to the minnow bucket only to hear Caleb say I got a fish. Sure enough, he pulled in a large walleye at 4:40pm.

I told Jason to take the pickup and get him to the weigh in, it might be a winner. Sure enough, It was the largest walleye caught, kids or adults (18+" and 1 lb 15oz). He is now a fishing tourney winner, just 45 years quicker than I managed the feat. The boys were pretty pumped up about the big win. Caleb thought the prize money was pretty cool also....


Does that mean, I can add tournament winning fishing guide to my resume'?

A good day fishing with an old buddy from work...

It was good to spend yesterday afternoon, bouncing a few jigs thru some holes in the ice, and visiting with a friend that works to hard and needed some time off. We had talked about going for such a long time and always had something come up or just never got a round to it.......

It brought back memories as he ignored his cell phone as it rang and rang while we drilled holes and set up our fishing rigs, he was relaxing, a small break in his busy work week........

We had good time and even managed to each catch 2 walleye apiece. We came to the conclusion that sometimes you just have to stop all the slaveing away, and just set back and go fishing.......

We should do that more often.......

I thought of all the conversations we had had over the years during good times and bad, the times when he or I just needed someone to listen, or just be there while we vented. You know neither of us has ever said it, but we have grown closer over time by just being there.........

Sometimes it is just good to go fishing........

January 20th and +42 degrees!!!!!

It was a very nice day here in central South Dakota. 42 degrees was today's high in Highmore, and I think it was warmer down at the river! Beautiful weather but the fish really we not cooperating. One keeper walleye, one too small, and a nice big perch. It still was good to get out and soak up some sun. Just Rod Vaughn and I so we had a very good visit. Rod's Diamond Willow Ministries Kid's fishing tourney will be held Saturday Jan. 31st. Should be a good time for all.

Too cold to fish!

Yep, to cold for this old bird, not very often, but today was an exception.......
Todays high was only +3 degrees, this mornings low -24 degrees, currently -3.
Tomorrow, a major heat wave is coming with the high around +30 ....

Just a thought for the day!

Reading about baseball is a lot more interesting than reading about chess, but you have to wonder: Don't any of these guys ever go fishing?

~Dave Shiflett, quoted in Houston Chronicle, 29 April 1990

fridged cold wave slows down the fishing.

Wonderful South Dakota winter is causing all sorts of problems here in the northern plains. This Winter seems to be colder than the last several, but maybe I am just getting older.
I do hope to go fishing tomorrow, but we may change our minds.....

As promised a fishing tourney update!

The Diamond Willow Ministries ice fishing tourney was a huge success, and fun was had by all. Over 40 participants hit the ice for a late afternoon of fishing fun, hard water style.......
Max Kelley(our minister) and I headed up river from the North Shore boat landing near DWM, above the farm on the east bank, north of the cutbanks, along with Rod Vaughn, his son Aaron, friend Reed, and 5 from the Huron church. We caught lots of small walleyes and eight or so keepers as a group. Max and I caught 8, but only one 16" keeper, Reed tied for 1st place largest walleye of the day at 18+" and 2.4 pounds!
The largest stringer was over 11 pounds, caught by a man and wife couple below the dam, right where I fished last week, go figure huh........
Oh well, it was fun, and I am going back next Thursday for so more........
Rod and I think we should go to Brainard, Minnesota in a couple weeks to the world's largest ice fishing tourney..... what do you think??????

Been working but going fishing Thursday!

Yep, ice fishing is in full swing here in South Dakota.
I plan on going down to the river this Thursday afternoon, as Rod Vaughn, of Diamond Willow Ministries, is planning one of his friendly ice fishing tourneys.
Just plain fun but some serious fishing, ha ha ha!
Always a good time is had by all.
Watch for an update soon