Smudzinski Wins Ice Fishing Derby

The 19th Annual Ice Fishing Derby was held Feb. 11 at the Dredge Cuts Trout Pond at Fort Peck Lake. This year's derby was very successful compared to the past two years, as the previous event was canceled due to lack of ice and the 2015 derby only saw one perch caught.

Participants endured high wind guests of 49 mph and high temperatures between 32 and 37 degrees, but that did not deter them from coming out. There were 62 participates with 177 holes being sold, and an estimated 50 people came to observe the festivities and cheer on their family and friends. Participants came from all over the region, including Glasgow, Jordan, and Poplar, with the furthest participant coming from Minot, N.D.

According to Josh Sillerud, president of the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, "In 2015, the high temperature was 0 degrees with 50 mph winds. Only 41 people participated and only 111 holes were sold. This year was double the participation."

A total of $4,560 in cash, prizes and raffles were awarded. Sillerud won a Yetti cooler, and Traci Harada won the 50/50 raffle in the amount of $640. Those weren't the big winners, as Brad Smudzinski of Fort Peck won $2,000 for his catch of a 2.46 pound Northern Pike. This year's winner blew the 2015 winner out of the water, as in 2015, Josh Palm and Travis Kittleson won the top price with a .62-pound perch, the only fish caught during the event.

Plans are being made for the 20th Annual Ice Fishing Derby, an anniversary organizers consider to be a milestone. According to Sillerud, "Big things are in store with Mother Nature's cooperation."

The other placed winners were:

2nd Place – Glasgow Evangelical Church, Glasgow winning $1000 with a 2.06 pound Northern.

3rd Place – Rick Viste of Glasgow winning $500 for a 2.02 pound Northern.

4th Place – DP Schlosser of Glendive winning $250 for a 1.3 pound Northern.

5th Place – Chris Marrow and Katie Busch of Fort Peck winning $125 for a 1.1 pound Northern.

6th Place – Sam and Zac Olson of Fort Peck and Glasgow winning $75 for a .98-pound Perch.

7th Place – Levi and Rivers Sugg of Glasgow winning $50 for a .56-pound perch.