06.05.2009
Fishing Challenge Success Measured in Fish & Funds Raised
The first annual Minnesota Fishing Challenge presented by Mills Fleet Farm was a huge success. The 87 teams participating in this charity raised more than $85,000, which will all go to Teen Challenge, the most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in the state.
Conducted on Gull Lake on Saturday, May 30, the two-person teams faced windy conditions, yet were all smiles upon their return to Ernie’s on Gull with their mixed bags of bass, pike, walleyes and panfish. Honorary tournament director Al Lindner said, “This first annual event was a great success and will only grow. The anglers’ smiles told the story – they really liked fishing for the species that was biting for them.”
Winners of the Full Throttle walleye division were Mark and Eric Sullivan with 11.37 pounds for their tournament limit of three walleyes. Their biggest weighed 5.46 pounds. Eric is from Brainerd and Mark lives in Ulen. They won a guided fishing trip with Perry Good. The largest walleye of the tournament, 6.24 pounds was landed by the team of James Hodgin, Newport and Mike Lundberg, Lakeshore. They won the Rack Back big walleye trophy, presented by Camden Outdoors. Walleyes were caught in seven feet of water, all the way out to 40 feet deep.
The Full Throttle bass division went to Scott and Kevin Bonnema from Zimmerman. Their bass tipped the scales to 4.38 pounds. Each team could weigh only one bass. The Bonnemas won a guided fishing trip with Butch Blasing. Bass were caught throughout the lake, from under docks to 32 feet of water, on every presentation including casting Rapala Shad Raps and X-Raps to jigs and plastic to live bait. The average bass weighed 2.89 pounds. Both walleye and bass winners received Old World Meats trophies for being the top-placing family teams in the contest.
Scott Wielenburg and Shawn Lindley, Brainerd, won the Nor-Son panfish division. They weighed a tournament limit of three panfish at 2.86 pounds, and won a guided trip with Rich Boggs. Contestants could bring in crappies, bluegills, sunfish and perch in any combination. Most were shallow and tiny jigs and plastic accounted for most.
Claiming the Nor-Son pike division were Lowell Borgen, Maple Grove, and Gary Ellis, Ham Lake, with a 6.71-pound pike. They won a guided fishing trip with Tim Anderson. Pike fishing was tougher than expected and best described by David Johansen as, “They had lock-jaw.” He and partner Mark Boone, Brainerd finished third, but Johansen was the winner of the Birchdale Fire & Security trophy for traveling the farthest, 6,110 miles from Lebanon, to fish the Challenge.
The top fund-raisers, Jamison Seiffert and Joshua Maxwell, Litchfield won a fishing trip with Al Lindner for raising the most funds of any team, $5,370. Walleye Dan Eigen will escort the team of Steve Walstad, Buffalo, and Jeff Ekstrand, Rogers on a guided fishing trip for raising $4,270. Anglers from throughout Minnesota traveled to the Brainerd-lakes area to participate. “New friendships and new fishing partners were created, but the real blessing was the great effort all contestants made to benefit Teen Challenge,” Lindner said.
A big crowd of fishing fans cheered the anglers on stage. The families also enjoyed the Fishing for Life games and activities for youngsters, hosted by the Miss Brainerd pageant contestants. Kids also had fun learning the basics and shooting in the Centershot Archery lanes.
Minnesota Teen Challenge currently serves 450 students in Minneapolis, Brainerd and Duluth. It is the most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs in the state. More information, results and pictures can be viewed at mntc.org/fishingchallenge.
05.18.2009
Fishermen Support Teen Challenge
The first annual fishing tournament to “reel-in” funds for Minnesota Teen Challenge is set for Gull Lake on Saturday, May 30. Teams will be on the water, while friends and families will enjoy games and activities on shore.
Brainerd’s Al Lindner will serve as honorary director of the Minnesota Fishing Challenge presented by Mills Fleet Farm. He said, “The support for this event has been spectacular. Fishermen are pulling together to raise money, and their day on the water will be a bonus.”
Each team raised at least $500 in tax-deductible sponsorship dollars from friends, relatives and businesses. When the tournament was first proposed, Lindner said, “I bet many teams will find more than $500 in sponsorships.” He was correct, and with more than 80 teams participating, the final tally will be impressive.
Teams will bring the fish they catch to the weigh-in stage at Ernie’s on Gull. The free stage show and weigh-in ceremonies will be full of laughs, tall tales, fish stories and fun, starting at 3:30 p.m. Trophies for the Full Throttle walleye and bass divisions and the Nor-Son panfish and northern pike divisions will be awarded along with an array of prizes. All fish will be released.
There will be more than fish at Ernie’s. The Fishing for Life youth activities and games, and the Centershot Archery range will also be open to youngsters. These hands-on games and shooting are free to the public starting at 1 p.m.
Minnesota Teen Challenge is a faith-based organization to help people find freedom from the destructive habits of alcohol and drug abuse. Sam Anderson, director of the Brainerd facility said, “This support from the fishing fraternity means so much. Thank you! Our goal is to help each person who walks through our doors find true freedom from addiction. Hope is being restored one life at a time here at Minnesota Teen Challenge.”
03.12.2009
Fishing Challenge Partners with Fleet Farm, Nor-Son and Full Throttle Outdoors
The first annual Minnesota Fishing Challenge, a Gull Lake multi-species fishing tournament to raise funds for Minnesota Teen Challenge, will be presented by Fleet Farm. Full Throttle Outdoors will sponsor the walleye and bass divisions. Northern pike and panfish will be sponsored by Nor-Son Inc. These partnerships were announced recently by honorary tournament director Al Lindner.
“Working with these fine companies means the first annual Fishing Challenge will really take off. I’m anxious to see all the teams and listen to their stories. Don’t miss out, enter now,” Lindner, fishing hall of famer and TV icon said. The Fishing Challenge is open to all ages and all skill levels. The goal is to join together, “reel-in” funds for Minnesota Teen Challenge, have fun, win prizes and support one of the most successful drug and alcohol treatment programs in the state.
Fleet Farm is headquartered in Brainerd. The third-generation family-owned company lists its trademarks on fleetfarm.com as honesty, integrity, efficiency, hard work, courtesy, service and loyalty. Fleet Farm has 31 stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa, and in addition to its wide range of products, is known as, “Your Fishing and Hunting Headquarters.”
Nor-Son Inc., is a construction services firm that specializes in creating warm, welcoming and well-built environments for the home, hospitality, healthcare and commercial sectors. Nor-Son’s approach to providing comfort before, during and after the construction process is embodied in their company motto, “Build Well. Be well.” The company has offices in Baxter, MN and Fargo, ND. See nor-son.com for details.
Full Throttle Outdoors combines fishing and faith in a series of 28 professional walleye and bass fishing tournaments in the upper Midwest. Full Throttle team events are conducted “close to home” for their contestants. They cater to beginners and experienced anglers. Visit FTfishing.com for schedules and more information.
Minnesota Fishing Challenge teams are now registering ($100) by downloading entry blanks from mntc.org/fishingchallenge. Once entered, teams will be eligible for all four species, but may concentrate on their favorite fish. They will fish Saturday, May 30, on Gull Lake. The weigh-in at Ernie’s on Gull will feature Fishing for Life youth games and activities and the CenterShot Archery range for hands-on shooting.
01.24.2009
First Minnesota Fishing Challenge set for Gull Lake May 30, 2009
Gull Lake, near Brainerd, will host the first Minnesota Fishing Challenge May 30. The event is for anglers of all skill-levels. They will compete and raise funds for one of the most successful drug and alcohol treatment programs in Minnesota, Teen Challenge.
The main purpose of this multi-species tournament (bass, walleyes, northern pike and bluegills or sunnies) is to help Minnesota Teen Challenge. Fishing innovator and TV star Al Lindner will serve as Honorary Tournament Director. He said, “I believe strongly in this cause, and will do everything possible to assist Minnesota Teen Challenge and make this a great fishing event on one of my favorite lakes.”
Two-person teams may compete in a single division or try for all species. The entry fee is $100. Entries will be accepted until the 100-team field is set. Teams then have until mid-May to raise a minimum of $500 in tax-deductible sponsorship fees. “This great cause should be an easy-sell with sponsorship support from families, friends, co-workers, businesses, and others,” Lindner said. “More people can contribute to Minnesota Teen Challenge on a personal level, and I bet many teams will find more than $500 in sponsorships. I would like to see each team come up with $1,000.”
The Fishing Challenge will be open to all ages. If two team members are both under 16, they must have a non-fishing guardian or parent present in the boat. Trophies for each category are based on weights. Only the largest pike and bass will be eligible for prizes. In the walleye category, three walleyes may be weighed. The panfish division is open for any combination of three bluegills, sunfish or perch. An array of prizes will be awarded to the heaviest catches per division. Every contestant will win merchandise.
Entry blanks and details are available on line at the Minnesota Teen Challenge web site, www.mntc.org, along with a message from Lindner. The weigh-in site will be at Ernie’s on Gull Lake, where Fishing for Life activities and an archery shooting range hosted by CenterShot Archery will be open to youngsters. These hands-on games are free to the public, as will be the 4 p.m. stage show and weigh-in ceremonies.
Teen Challenge has facilities in Brainerd, Duluth and Minneapolis. Their goal is to help people find freedom from the destructive habits of alcohol and drugs. It is a faith-based organization with a proven track record. Sam Anderson, director of the Brainerd facility said, “This type of support from the fishing fraternity means so much to Minnesota Teen Challenge. Our goal is to help each person who walks through our doors find true freedom from addiction. Hope is being restored one life at a time here at Minnesota Teen Challenge.”
