Another Successful Year On The Milk

Clouds hung over the area all day June 6, threatening rain and lightning. But the inclement weather did nothing to deter the competitive nature of fishermen who came in from across the region to net the largest catfish on the Milk.

Though the weather looked rough, it never carried through on its threats beyond some brief rain. That rain may have helped a number of sportsmen who racked up the catches and the pounds at the 21st Catfish Classic. At the end of the Midnight weigh-ins, it was the grandfather-grandson duo out of Billings, Dan Dupea and Eli Dupea, who took home the trophy for the "grand daddy" of the Montana Cats Tour. The two brought in 32.27 pounds of catfish to net themselves first place this year.

Brady Flaten, a longtime participant on the catfish circuit, looked on with pride and admiration, noting that Eli Dupea had started fishing the circuit with his grandfather years ago, "when he was about this tall," waving just above his waist. A post on the Milk River Catfish Classic's Facebook page shows a younger Eli Dupea, in 2013, proudly showing off his Big Fish from that year's Yellowstone Challenge, a 12.33 pound cat.

"And now he's a champion," Flaten added, demonstrating the closeness of those on the circuit, despite the competitive spirit that draws sportsmen to the event. This year's event drew longtime circuit members and several new competitors. The weather may have helped those at the top of the rankings, but the favor did not extend to all teams. A few teams failed to reel in any cats this year, and several more were visibly disappointed with their catches, laughing at their own misfortune before quickly exiting the weigh in stage.

Some sportsmen were nervous early on in the afternoon. "This isn't good," said Tyler George while waiting for his first bite of the day. "It's a bad sign if they don't bite within the first 10 minutes." After letting his stopwatch run down, he moved on to a new spot with his brother and partner, Ryan George. The team claimed back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016 but turned in only 16.64 pounds this year for 31st place.

Down the river a ways, Dylan Linder and Cooper Larson were set up in their spot near an old rusted out vehicle and a fallen tree. The two had no plans on moving from their location. "We're already doing better than we did last year," Linder said. Having to scramble up the bank on a ladder and rope may have had a role in the boys not wanting to haul away their fishing gear. The Glasgow teens had reached the five-fish limit early in the evening and were culling for size and weight. Chicken liver, cut bait and frogs brought in 16.26 pounds of catfish for their 32nd place finish.

Sportsmen from the mouth of the Milk River near Nashua and Fort Peck to the Bjornberg Bridge near Saco brought in hundreds of pounds of catfish to be weighed on the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce's stage, which made its inaugural appearance at this year's Catfish Days.

Founder Brenner Flaten emceed, while Rocky Thompson weighed the fish and Allison Flaten and Gail Fast recorded the results. A team of volunteers managed the live wells beside the stage as sportsmen marched through the weigh ins in the parking lot across from the Elks.

Brenner Flaten noted one significant difference in this yer's event, "Uncharacteristically for the Classic, five of the top six teams fished from boats this year. It is the first time the tournament championship has ever been officially claimed by a team fishing predominantly out of a boat throughout the evening. It just goes to show that you never know what can happen in a Cat Classic!"

At the end of the long night, and after a succession of new leaders had taken their seats on the stage, the Dupeas walked away the big winners. William Van Hook and Wes Van Hook, of Sidney, Mont., claimed second place with 31.76 pounds while Robert Peterson and Jayson Riggin brought in 29.85 pounds for third place.

Three local teams cracked the top 10 this year. Willy Lauckner and Colton Yoss, of Nashua, claimed fourth place with 27.22 pounds. Brady Flaten and Jason Molstad snagged eighth place with 23.41 pounds, edging out ninth-place finishers Marc Kloker and Joel Smith, all of Glasgow, who brought in 22.97 pounds.

William Van Hook reeled in the Jumbo Whiskers award with his 11.60 pound catfish and Jeff Irving, of Belgrade, Mont., took home the Big Whiskers Award with a 10.93 pound cat.

Full List of 2020 Catfish Classic Results

1. Dan Dupea, Billings, MT., Eli Dupea, Billings MT. 32.27

2. William Van Hook, Sidney, MT., Wes Van Hook, Sidney, MT. 31.76

3. Robert Petersen, Billings, MT., Jayson Riggin, Billings, MT. 29.85

4. Willy Lauckner, Nashua, MT., Colton Yoss, Nashua, MT. 27.22

5. Dan Achten, Laurel, MT., Amber Achten, Laurel, MT. 26.71

6. Jimmy Decker, Sidney, MT., Austin Bement, Sidney, MT. 25.31

7. Jason Flaten, West Wendover, NV., Cole Plouffe, Glendive, MT. 25.14

8. Brady Flaten, Glasgow, MT., Jason Molstad, Glasgow, MT. 23.41

9. Marc Kloker, Glasgow, MT., Joel Smith, Glasgow, MT. 22.97

10. Ty Thomas, Lewistown, MT., Jon Polich, Lewistown, MT. 22.94

11. Clancy Harris, Malta, MT., Brandon Guhy, Glasgow, MT. 22.78

12. Brendan Waarvik, Billings, MT., DJ Elletson, Glasgow, MT. 22.72

13. Josh Schmitt, Sidney, MT., Adam Knudson, Sidney, MT. 22.63

14. Casey King, Glasgow, MT., Tyler King, Glasgow, MT. 22.52

15. Scott Redstone, Glasgow, MT., Aidan Redstone, Glasgow, MT. 22.29

16. Steve Norcutt, Glasgow, MT., Brien Norcutt, Glasgow, MT. 22.24

17. Jeff Irving, Belgrade, MT., Dylan Hughes, Glasgow, MT. 22.16

18. Allan Harrington, Glasgow, MT., Tara Harrington, Glasgow, MT. 22.03

19. Bobby Wise, Billings, MT., Robert Wise, Billings, MT. 21.84

20. Bo Boreson, Perrysville, IN., Vance Anderson, Glasgow, MT., 21.71

21. Jake Aune, Glasgow, MT., Shawn Wersal, Glasgow, MT 21.23

22. Mitch McIntyre, Glasgow, MT., Jim McIntyre, Glasgow, MT. 21.21

23. Josh Marottek, Medicine Lake, MT., Derek Werner, Poplar, MT. 20.77

24. Coel Stutheit, Glasgow, MT., John Grimes, Nashua, MT. 20.36

25. Callahan Belling, Richland, MT., JD Bailey, Opheim, MT. 18.41

26. Bryon Armour, Lewistown, MT., Gunnar Thomas, Lewistown, MT. 18.11

27. Corey Bushman, Billings, MT., Matthew Bushman, Billings, MT. 17.77

28. Cale Swanson, Glasgow, MT., Dominik Zimdars, Glasgow, MT. 17.19

29. Dave George, Glasgow, MT., Candy Lagerquist, Glasgow, MT. 16.96

30. Bob Kemp, Glasgow, MT., Jodi Kemp, Glasgow, MT. 16.84

31. Tyler George, Sheridan, WY., Ryan George, Joliet, MT. 16.64

32. Dylan Linder, Glasgow, MT., Cooper Larson, Glasgow, MT. 16.26

33. Caleb Lagree, Glasgow, MT., Ethan Stone, Glasgow, MT. 16.17

34. Chad Dawson, Dickinson, ND., Brady Burgess, Glasgow, MT. 15.76

35. Tyler Johnson, Nashua, MT., Zach Watts, Nashua, MT. 15.56

36. Stone Tihista, Nashua, MT., Taeler Anderson, Billings, MT. 15.07

37. Keigan Ingram, Glasgow, MT., Lane Thompson, Glasgow, MT. 14.6

38. Justin King, Sidney, MT., William Van Hook, Sidney, MT. 14.52

39. Trey Shores, Malta, MT., Cole Robinson, Saco, MT. 13.54

40. Brien Gault, Glasgow, MT., Autumn Gault, Glasgow, MT. 13.2

41. Jason Schultz, Glasgow, MT., Hunter Schultz, Glasgow, MT. 13.14

42. Lance Howe, Glasgow, MT., Ross Allen, Glasgow, MT. 12.72

43. Casey Riggin, Glasgow, MT., Jessica Pennington, Glasgow, MT. 12.69

44. Todd Lindsay, Billings, MT., Kellie Lindsay, Billings, MT. 11.64

45. Landon Holte, Fort Peck, MT., Carter Holte, Fort Peck, MT. 11.39

46. Curt Shipman, Glasgow, MT., Darci Shipman, Glasgow, MT. 11.33

47. Rod Ost, Glasgow, MT., David Irving, Glasgow, MT. 11.05

48. Sara Storkson, Glasgow, MT., Renee Sibley, Nashua, MT. 10.91

49. Peyton Pedersen, Billings, MT., Carter Pedersen, Wolf Point, MT. 10.66

50. Karl Krause, Glasgow, MT., Jake Kuka, Glasgow, MT. 10.03

51. Eric Feit, Glasgow, MT., Dale Borgen, Glasgow, MT. 9.95

52. Cody King, Glasgow, MT., Michael King, Glasgow, MT. 9.83

53. Matt Sudduth, St. Marie, MT., Wyatt Pedersen, Glasgow, MT. 8.93

54. Joe Carpenter, Sidney, MT., Pam Carpenter, Sidney, MT. 8.45

55. Timm Canen, Miles City, MT., Aimee Kloeckner, Glasgow, MT. 8.19

56. Steve Harris Jr., Sidney, MT., Steve Lowrey, Sidney, MT. 7.79

57. Quentin Compton, Glasgow, MT., Nathaniel Adams, St. Marie, MT. 6.69

58. Jessica Ost, Glasgow, MT., Brooklyn Hallock, Glasgow, MT. 6.59

59. James Bergeron, Sidney, MT., Patrick Bergeron, Sidney, MT. 6.54

60. Blaine Berg, Glendive, MT., Damen Scherting, Glendive, MT. 6.4

61. Mike Merideth, Nashua, MT., Michael Hendry, Nashua, MT. 6.35

62. Jacob Billman, Missoula, MT., Josh Trexler, Missoula, MT. 5.32

63. Kyle Gibson, Glasgow, MT., Trevin Gibson, Glasgow, MT. 5.27

64. Patrick Gay, Glasgow, MT., Clint Norcutt, Glasgow, MT. 4.96

65. Kolby Messerly, Malta, MT., Daniel Horn, Harlem, MT. 4.44

66. Aaron Wittmer, Havre, MT., Wade Riden, Hinsdale, MT. 4.15

67. Norm Braaten, Fort Peck, MT., Dustin Braaten, Fort Peck, MT. 3.61

68. Curtis Meiers, Missoula, MT., Jake Meiers, Nashua, MT. 3.57

69. Jake Knaff, Glasgow, MT., Kelcey Arnold, Glasgow, MT. 2.94

70. Kobe Sibley, Glasgow, MT., Loden Idler, Hinsdale, MT. 2.88

71. Melissa Sigmundstad, Glasgow, MT., Briana Page, Glasgow, MT. 2.17

72. Ben Unterseher, Glasgow, MT., Brent Joseph, Glasgow, MT. 1.78

73. Grady Nelson, Sidney, MT., Quinten Nelson, Sidney, MT. 0

Seth Combs, Beulah, ND., Mark Combs, Glasgow, MT. 0

Katie Anderson, Glasgow, MT., Cody Kuka, Glasgow, MT. 0

Shannon Ost, St. Marie, MT., Tori Gagne, Glasgow, MT. 0

Seth Ingram, Glasgow, MT., KJ Ingram, Glasgow, MT. 0

Wayne Linder, Glasgow, MT., Jeff Larson, Glasgow, MT. 0

Brodie Boreson, Glasgow, MT., Alex Partridge, Glasgow, MT. 0

80. KaCee McPherson, Savage, MT., Nicole Peterson, Savage, MT. 0