Catfish Classic Sets New Record

The 19th Annual Catfish Classic came to an end just after midnight on June 3. The festivities began with the Calcutta and street dance on Glasgow's famous Front Street on June 1, and concluded with the midnight weigh-ins in downtown Glasgow.

The tournament boasted 80 teams from near and far, from Glasgow to North Carolina. Of those 80 teams, 68 were able to hook enough catfish to weigh-in. Although most of the fishermen that filed across the stage at the end of the tournament described the fishing as a “tough bite,” tournament director and founder Brenner Flaten was pleased with the event. “I thought it was as smooth as any tournament has ran in the 19 years I've been running it,” he explained. “It was outstanding.”

This year, the tournament yielded six fish that weighed over 10 lbs., a new record for the event. Three of those weighed over 11 1bs.

Earning the top prize for their efforts on the Milk River were Jason Flaten of West Wendover, Nev., and Glendive's Cole Plouffe.

With a whopping 12.26 lb. catfish, Glasgow's Jake Kuka hooked the “Jumbo Whiskers” award. Bobby Wise of Billings earned the “Big Whisker” award with his hefty 11.60 lb. mud cat.

Full results

1. Jason Flaten, West Wendover, Nev., and Cole Plouffe, Glendive - 33.30

2. Willy Lauckner, Nashua, and Chris Kolstad, Ggw - 32.03

3. Karl Krause and Jake Kuka, Ggw - 28.29

4. Scott and Aidan Redstone, Ggw - 27.43

5. Bryon Armour and Ty Thomas, Lewistown - 26.41

6. Brady Flaten and Jason Molstad, Ggw - 25.90

7. Casey Riggin and Jessica Pennington, Ggw - 25.22

8. Jeff Irving, Bozeman, and Dylan Hughes, Ggw - 23.95

9. Bobby and Robert Wise, Billings - 22.95

10. Jerry Molstad, Miles City, and Nate Molstad, Havre - 22.42

11. Joel Smith and Marc Kloker, Ggw - 21.50

12. Dave George and Candy Lagerquist, Ggw - 20.17

13. Mitch and Jim McIntyre, Ggw - 20.03

14. Tyler George, Sheridan, Wyo., and Ryan George, Joliet - 19.82

15. Callahan Belling, Richland, and JD Bailey, Opheim - 19.45

16. Shawn Hopstad and Zach Miller, Ggw - 19.40

17. David Nixdorf and Carter Pederson, Ggw - 18.83

18. Ed Sugg, Hinsdale, and Storm Jackson, Ggw - 18.37

19. Cody Stensland, Fairview, and George Stuckers, Sidney - 18.25

20. Timm Canen, Miles City, and Aimee Kloeckner, Ggw- 17.95

21. Bo Boreson, Perrysville, Ind., and Vance Anderson, Ggw - 17.62

22. Chad Dawson, Dickinson, N.D., and Brady Burgess, Ggw - 16.95

23. Kevin Howie and Travis Kennedy, Billings - 15.91

24. Tara and Allan Harrington, Ggw - 15.87

25. Steve Harris Sr. and Quinten Nelson, Sidney - 15.84

26. Blake Gauer and Lindsey Gauer, Park City - 15.36

27. Steve Lowrey, Fairview, and James Decker, Sidney - 15.30

28. Norm and Dustin Braaten, Fort Peck - 15.27

29. James Bergeron and Marty Ross, Sidney - 15.20

30. Seth Combs, Beulah, N.D., and Mark Combs, Ggw - 14.53

31. Darci and Curtis Shipman, Ggw - 14.07

32. Jesse and Jessica Nickels, Nashua - 13.53

33. Robert Peterson and Jaysen Riggin, Billings - 13.29

34. Jacob Aune and Shawn Wersal, Ggw - 13.05

35. Josh and Hailee Moore, Sidney - 12.71

36. Mike Zoanni and Nate Doornek, Ggw - 12.02

37. Nate and Duane Meiers, Billings - 11.92

38. Steve and Brien Norcutt, Ggw - 11.67

39. Courtney Gagne, Dickinson, N.D., and McKenna Gagne, Glasgow - 11.63

40. Jeremiah Johnson, Laurel, and Scott Swanson, Billings - 11.63

41. Blaine Berg and Damen Scherting, Glendive - 11.34

42. Troy and Tristin Vandall, Ggw - 11.18

43. Spencer Marsh and Caleb Lagree, Ggw - 11.15

44. John Grimes, Nashua, and Coel Stutheit, Ggw - 11.13

45. Brodie and Lindsey Boreson, Hinsdale - 11.10

46. Steve Harris Jr., Sidney, MT., Nick Fortier, Billings - 10.94

47. Colton Hill, Dickinson, ND., Wyatt Pedersen, Ggw - 10.56

48. Brien and Autumn Gault, Ggw - 10.41

49. Cody King, Minot, N.D., and Casey King, Ggw - 10.17

50. Josh Marottek, Medicine Lake, and Drew Henry, Ggw - 10.02

51. Brenden Waarvik, Billings, and DJ Elletson, Ggw - 8.88

52. Cody Kuka and Katie Anderson, Ggw - 8.63

53. Kyle and Trevin Gibson, Ggw - 8.12

54. Tori Gagne and Shannon Ost, Ggw - 7.35

55. Larry Hockhalter and Dale Borgen, GGgw - 6.86

56. Robert Kemp and Jodi Schock, Ggw - 6.61

57. Spencer Gay, Glendive, and Pat Gay, Billings - 4.89

58. Mike Meredith and Stone Tihista, Nashua - 4.77

59. Craig Compton, Mount Ulla, N.C., and Quinton Compton, Ggw - 4.75

60. Crystal Boreson, Perrysville, Ind., and Katie Clausen, Lambert - 4.52

61. Kobe Sibley and Trevor Klind, Ggw - 4.47

62. Jeff Unterseher, Glendive, and Ben Unterseher, Ggw - 3.99

63. Paul Pasley, Bigfork, and Michael Williams, Havre - 3.20

64. James Schultz, Cambridge, Neb., and Hunter Schultz, Fort Peck - 2.83

65. Paul Provencher and Wayne Linder, Ggw - 2.20

66. Rob Seder, Hardin, and Rod Seder, Billings - 1.24

67. Derek Mahlum, Great Falls, and Aaron Wittmer, Havre - 0.99

68. Doug and Kane Mahlum, Great Falls - 0.63

No Weight: Bob Harrington and Kat Geer, Ggw; Melissa Sigmundstad and Briana Lee Page, Ggw; Paul and Jennifer Moore, Hinsdale; Tyler Johnson and Zach Watts, Nashua; Kelcey Arnold and Jake Knaff, Hinsdale; Justin King and Tony Maurer, Sidney; James Prevost, Fort Peck, and Bryce Kauffman, Ggw; David Irving and Rod Ost, Ggw; Matt and Corey Bushman, Billings; Dan and Amber Achten, Laurel; Derek Carda and Adam Smith, Sidney; Luke Morehouse and Nathan Hopstad, Ggw.

Jumbo Whiskers Award - Jake Kuka 12.26 lbs.

Big Whiskers Award - Bobby Wise 11.60 lbs.