Milk River Catfish Classic Did Not Disappoint

The 20th-Annual Milk River Catfish Classic was historic in more ways than one. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, which was held June 1, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce announced a new event in conjunction with the Catfish Classic. The inaugural Milk River Catfish Days brought a whole new flavor to downtown Glasgow that lasted the entire weekend. 

The community enjoyed two nights of live music, a pancake breakfast, a Bloody Mary and breakfast burrito brunch hosted by the Elks, a corn hole tournament for both youth and adults, a beer pong tournament, a catfish fry catered by the Cottonwood, the school's out carnival hosted by the Children's Museum, a 1 mile / 5k race called the Catfish Crawl, a pitching booth hosted by the Glasgow Reds, Catfish "Crazy Days" for vendors and retail stores alike, a youth fishing tournament at Home Run Pond, and a youth outdoors clinic hosted by the Hi-Line Sportsmen. All of the aforementioned events added to the traditional Friday night Calcutta, social and street dance, the 20th Annual Cat Classic, and the "Famous Midnight Weigh-ins" to make this year's version one that will not be soon forgotten.

This year's 80-team field was filled during the first month of open registration. Five teams were pulled off of a waiting list as the tournament neared, making it a mix of veteran and inexperienced tournament anglers. This year's roster was also littered with an abundance of local anglers and teams from all over the region, most notably Montana Cats Circuit anglers from Billings, Laurel, Sidney, and everywhere in between. 

In previous years we have had high water, low water, warm weather, cold weather, wind, no wind, and just about every possible condition you can imagine. This year was interesting for the simple fact that the weather was cooperative for tournament night and most of the week leading up to the event. Weather hovered in the 80s on Friday and again on tournament day. Little to no wind, no precipitation, and slightly dropping water conditions provided anglers with a chance to put up big weights and the entire 80-team field did not disappoint.  

Steve Harris Jr., Sidney, and Steve Lowrey, Fairview, are Cat Classic veterans and they hit the shoreline running on Saturday night. This is Harris' 11th year fishing the event and he has particularly focused on one main stretch of river, reading it and studying it as much as he can. These teammates own jet boats and live on the Yellowstone River, but when it came to navigating the Cat Classic on an evening where water levels were average, the teammates elected that sticking to the shore would be in their best interest. Boy are they happy they did. 

Their time was now. The Richland County catfish junkies toted their five cats up on the stage at nearly 1 a.m. and watched the scale dial up to an impressive 36.42 lbs. Good enough to take home the 20th Annual Cat Classic Championship and command a loud ovation from an estimated 500 spectators in attendance.  

Claiming runner-up honors was the sibling duo of Carter Pedersen, Wolf Point, and Peyton Pedersen, Billings, with an impressive basket of fish in their own right. The anglers weighed in a limit of 34.81 lbs. C. Pedersen also claimed the Jumbo Whiskers Award for the largest catfish of the evening with his 11.12 lb. behemoth. The fish is a trophy Milk River Cat in every sense of the word. Maybe the most impressive of all is the fact that P. Pedersen had never fished the event prior to this year and C. Pedersen had just made his debut the previous year. 

Defending champions and Glasgow natives Jason Flaten and Cole Plouffe put together another impressive night of fishing, following up last year's championship with a weight of 32.94 lbs. Just under their total weight from 2018. Bo Boreson and Vance Anderson finished just one-half pound back of third place with 32.41 lbs. Brady Flaten and Jason Molstad rounded out the top five with a weight of 31.64 lbs. The finish marks an 11th top five finish for Flaten in 20 years of fishing the event.  

Three native local teams finished sixth to eighth, respectively. Brendan Waarvik and DJ Elletson; Joel Smith and Marc Kloker; Timm Canen and Aimee Kloeckner all weighed in over 30 lbs. making it the first time in Cat Classic history that eight teams could make the claim of catching 30-plus pounds.  

Montana Cats Circuit anglers Rod Seder, Billings, and Rob Seder, Hardin, and Bobby Wise and Robert Wise, Billings, claimed the last two spots in the all-important "Top 10." 

A record-tying 28 teams weighed in 20-plus pounds and an all-time Montana Cats Circuit record 78 teams weighed in fish. Congratulations to the entire tournament field for being a part of a history making night of fishing. 

The Montana Catfish Association would like to take this time to thank the following sponsors for the 20th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic: Glasgow TBID, Nemont Beverage Corporation (Busch Light), Montana Bar, Thompson and Sons, Scottie Nation Apparel, Ag-Land Co-op Glasgow, D&G Sports and Western, Thrivent Financial Shelly George, Newton Motors, B'n'M Poles, Whisker Seeker Tackle, Cat River Anchors, RS Jet Boat Anchors, and Hi-Line Sportsmen. Also, a huge thank you to all of those local businesses that sponsored the Glasgow Chamber's Inaugural Milk River Catfish Days. You are all greatly appreciated.

Next year's Milk River Catfish Days and the 21st Annual Cat Classic is set for June 5-7, 2020. 

The third leg of the 2019 MT Cats Circuit, the 11th Annual Monster Cat Roundup in Sidney, is coming up on Saturday July 20. 

20th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic Results

*Set an all-time record with eight teams over 30 lbs., Tied an all-time record with 28 teams over 20 lbs.

1. Steve Harris Jr., Sidney, and Steve Lowrey, Fairview, 36.42

2. Carter Pedersen, Wolf Point, and Peyton Pedersen, Billings, 34.81

3. Jason Flaten, West Wendover, Nev., and Cole Plouffe, Glendive, 32.94

4. Bo Boreson, Perrysville, Ind., and Vance Anderson, Glasgow, 32.41

5. Brady Flaten and Jason Molstad, Glasgow, 31.64

6. Brendan Waarvik, Billings, and DJ Elletson, Glasgow, 30.94

7. Joel Smith and Marc Kloker, Glasgow, 30.35

8. Timm Canen, Miles City, and Aimee Kloeckner, Glasgow, 30.2

9. Rod Seder, Billings, and Rob Seder, Hardin, 28.96

10. Bobby and Robert Wise, Billings, 28.85

11. Jacob Aune and Shawn Wersal, Glasgow, 28.47

12. Callahan Belling, Richland, and JD Bailey, Opheim, 27.05

13. Jake and Colt Knaff, Hinsdale, 25.99

14. Cale Swanson and Dominik Zimdars, Glasgow, 25.88

15. Corey and Matt Bushman, Billings, 25.02

16. Cody Tribby and Dylan Sander, Glasgow, 24.57

17. Steve Norcutt and Brien Norcutt, Glasgow, 24.31

18. Casey Peterson and Tobin Bell, Sidney, 24.21

19. Eric Billmeyer, Turner, and Casey Riggin, Glasgow, 24.12

20. Chris Kolstad, Williston, N.D., and Willy Lauckner, Nashua, 24.07

21. Bryon Armour and Tyler Thomas, Lewistown, 23.96

22. Brady Burgess and Myles Kittleson, Glasgow, 22.22

23. Scott Redstone and Aidan Redstone, Glasgow, 21.97

24. Tyler George, Sheridan, Wyo., and Ryan George, Joliet, 21.74

25. Dan and Amber Achten, Laurel, 21.48

26. Cody King, Minot, N.D., and Casey King, Glasgow, 21.21

27. Curtis Meiers, Missoula, and Jacob Meiers, Nashua, 20.7

28. Dave George and Candy Lagerquist, Glasgow, 20.51

29. Kyle Gibson and Trevin Gibson, Glasgow, 19.94

30. Blaine Berg and Damen Scherting, Glendive, 19.91

31. Jerry Molstad, Miles City, and Nate Molstad, Havre, 19.81

32. David Irving and Rod Ost, Glasgow, 19.76

33. Troy and Tristin Vandall, Glasgow, 19.76

34. Jeff Irving, Belgrade, and Dylan Hughes, Glasgow, 19.67

35. Blake and Lindsey Gauer, Park City, 19.57

36. Seth Combs, Beulah, N.D., and Mark Combs, Glasgow, 19.42

37. Steve Harris and Quinten Nelson, Sidney, 19.09

38. Norm and Dustin Braaten, Fort Peck, 19.01

39. Andrew Malmend, Saco, and Mike Vinson, Glasgow, 18.96

40. Mike Zoanni and Nate Doornek, Glasgow, 18.51

41. Sam Malmend, Vandalia, and Wrangler Jones, Hinsdale, 17.82

42. Landon and Carter Holte, Fort Peck, 17.6

43. Tara Geer and Allan Harrington, Glasgow, 17.38

44. Lacey Flaten and Keegan Morehouse, Glasgow, 17.33

45. Hawk Hockhalter, Bismarck, N.D., and Dale Borgen, Glasgow, 17.1

46. Kevin Howie and Travis Kennedy, Billings, 16.91

47. Brien and Autumn Gault, Glasgow, 16.9

48. Brodie Boreson, Hinsdale, and Alex Partridge, Glasgow, 16.48

49. Katie Anderson and Cody Kuka, Glasgow, 16.46

50. Hayden Clark, St. Marie, and Blaine White, Glasgow, 16.29

51. Wayne Linder and Keigan Ingram, Glasgow, 15.66

52. Cody Evans, Billings, and Jeremy Johnson, Worden, 15

53. Shawn and Chaz Hopstad, Glasgow, 14.68

54. Ed Sugg, Verndale, Minn., and Storm Jackson, Glasgow, 14.51

55. Stone Tihista and Mike Merideth, Nashua, 14.37

56. Coel Stutheit and John Grimes, Glasgow, 14.17

57. Paul Parra and Renea Parra, Laurel, 13.73

58. Colton Hill, Dickinson, N.D., and Wyatt Pedersen, Glasgow, 13.33

59. Josh Marottek, Medicine Lake, and Drew Henry, Glasgow, 12.84

60. George Stuckers, Sidney, and Cody Stensland, Fairview, 12.82

61. Bob Kemp and Jodi Schock, Glasgow, 12.64

62. Cooper Larson and Dylan Linder, Glasgow, 11.17

63. Karl Krause and Jake Kuka, Glasgow, 11.14

64. Terry King and Lindsey Brune, St. Marie, 10.68

65. Perry and Alyssa Vandersloot, Laurel, 10.09

66. Melissa Sigmundstad and Briana Page, Glasgow, 9.59

67. Curtis and Darci Shipman, Glasgow, 9.41

68. Craig Compton, Mount Ulla, N.C., and Quentin Compton, Glasgow, 9.17

69. Spencer Marsh and Caleb Lagree, Glasgow, 9.07

70. Jason Schultz and Hunter Schultz, Glasgow, 8.01

71. Andy Gardner, Dickinson, N.D., and Greg Fewer, Glasgow, 7.55

72. Robert Petersen and Jayson Riggin, Billings, 7.34

73. Todd and Kellie Lindsay, Billings, 7.34

74. Rick and Marcia Pedersen, Nashua, 7.23

75. Kobe Sibley and Trevor Klind, Glasgow, 7.13

76. Aaron Wittmer and Derek Mahlum, Havre, 5.42

77. Ben Unterseher, and Garrett Morken, Glasgow, 4.47

78. Spencer Gay, Glendive, and Pat Gay, Glasgow, 2.53

79. Shawn Weber and Kade Compton, Billings, 0

80. Tyler Johnson and Zach Watts, Nashua, 0

Jumbo Whiskers Award -- Carter Pedersen 11.12 lbs. 

Big Whiskers Award -- Steve Harris, Sr. 9.75 lbs.