Mountain Lake had more than 141 adults, 16+ kids out on its ice attempting to catch ‘the big one’
The annual Mountain Lake/Odin/Ormsby Area Sportsman Club’s (MLOOSC) Ice Fishing Contest was held Saturday, January 31 on Mountain Lake, with more than 141 adults and 16+ kids participating. The annual event is held on the last Saturday in the month.
Fishing awards were presented in four categories:
* Northern Pike – 1: Lee Hanish, 8.98 lb.; 2: Alex Dunker, 3.90 lb. and 3: Kevin Grunewald, 3.78 lb.
* Walleye – 1: Leland Olson, .06 lb.; 2: Mike McCue, .04 lb. and 3: Trevor Hall, Name drawn.
* Bass – 1: Milan Osland, 6.78 lb.; 2: Jake Sell, 1.58 lb. and 3: Emily Boender, 1.49 lb.
* Pan Fish – 1: Alex Dunker, 1.30 lb. perch; 2: Mike Braaten, 1.2 lb. crappie and 3: Dennis Brugman, .94 lb. crappie.
* Children ages 12 and under also competed in a largest fish contest, with the top three largest fish caught recognized – 1: Mike Malmgren, 1.26 lb. bass; 2: Dalton Braaten, .88 lb. crappie and 3: Kaid Sandbo, .62 lb. sunfish.
In addition, door prizes were raffled.
FOUR-WHEELERS WERE used to shuttle folks out to their “fishing spots” on Mountain Lake. This group of ice anglers huddled outside their fish house.
ANOTHER OPTION USED to stake out fishing areas were portable fish houses. This fisherman took his equipment, including pop-up house, ice auger, fishing rod and tackle and other supplies out on the ice via sled.
OF COURSE, IF one wanted to fish the “old-fashioned” way, it meant augering a hole and dropping a line all while also enjoying the great outdoors of a Minnesota Saturday afternoon on the last day of January.
MILAN OSLAND PROUDLY displays his first-place bass – all 6.78 lb. of it.
MIKE MALMGREN, LEFT, caught the biggest fish in the kids’ fishing contest category – a 1.26 lb. bass. With him on the ice was his uncle, Mike McCue, right (who, by-the-way, caught the second-place walleye, a .06 lb. fish.
THIS 3.90 POUND northern, caught by the holder, Alex Dunker, was big enough for second in the category. Topping with the biggest fish was Lee Hanish, with his 8.98 lb. northern. However, Dunker did win the Pan Fish category with a 1.30 lb. perch.
THE SECOND BIGGEST fish caught in the kids’ portion of the contest (those under the age of 12) was this .88 lb. crappie, caught by Dalton Braaten.
IT WAS SUNNY side up for this young girl who caught this sunfish. However, she was excited, and headed back onto the ice for more fishing, so her name isn’t known.
