Women's Walleye Tournament a Hit in Fort Peck

On Saturday, Aug 1, the Glasgow/Fort Peck chapter of Walleyes Unlimited hosted the fifteenth annual Ladies' Walleye Fishing Tournament. Each of the 49 pairs of fisherwomen which entered staked an $80 entry fee, all of which went into the event purse.

"It was a great turnout," said event liason Jill Meiers. "We usually get in the low forties, so this year was a great showing."

After a rules meeting on Friday night, the fishers retired to their beds, knowing that in mere hours they would each be entrenched in their vessels, rod in hand, casting their way towards the ever-elusive bite.

The boats pushed off from Fort Peck Marina at 7:00 a.m; the fishing commenced and continued through 3:00 p.m. An hour after the whistle was blown on the competition, when all the boats had docked and the captains and conquerers of the calm Fort Peck waters had acclimated themselves once again to the firmness of the solid ground beneath their feet, weigh-ins were held.

"It was a good year," said Carla Olson of Glasgow, the event's co-champion, in reference both to her victory and participation numbers.

Taking home first prize with Carla was Megan Wersal, also of Glasgow. Their combined haul of 15.40 pounds earned them the proverbial blue ribbon, $1,000 prize money, and a coupon valid for 12 months of bragging rights.

"We really just screamed," said Olson, when asked of her reaction to her and Wersal's earning the top spot.

Holly and Jeanna Cotter of Fairview slotted into second place with a catch weight of 14.47 pounds. Verna Cotton of Nashua and Farrah Burt of Laurel finished in third after notching 13.25 pounds.

Big catch went to Cotton and Burt, whose 13.25 pound catch was their only successful cast of the day.

Second place took home $700; third won $600; fourth, $500; fifth, $400. Prizes for those finishing outside the top five consisted of assorted fishing gear.