MOOSE LAKE – The old saying that when the fuzz blows off the poplar trees, the walleye bite their best may or may not be true, but there was definitely some in the air on Sunday, June 4 at Moose Lake, when Kevin Schafer and Chris Kindraka collected their second Moose Lake Walleye Classic win.
This year, the 2019 winners had a catch of 28.30 pounds on Saturday and 30.10 pounds on June 4 for a 59.40-pound total and the $4,000 top prize. Their total was an even pound and a half larger than the second place finishers, Randy Colcy and Paul Chippi, with 57.90 pounds earning them $2,500, with catches of 28.70 and 29.20 pounds.
Third place finishers Mark Holzworth and Wayne Holmen came in with a total weight of 57.10 pounds, with one of their Sunday fish the longest caught in both days of the derby, earning them an additional $340 on top of their $1,000 prize. Saturday’s biggest fish was recorded by the team of Paul Bouchard and Pacer Wilson, for an equal prize, but Sunday’s smaller catch had them finishing well out of the big money.
Fourth place overall went to Greg Kubel and Curtis Wright, with a total weight of 54.70 for $750 in prize money.
Calcutta wins ranging from $3,828 for first to $1,624 for fourth place added to their total wins.
Smaller prizes went all the way down to $250 for 10th place, with three of those teams also claiming other prizes. The Mixed Team prize of $1,000 went to Nadine Jackson and Kevin Karle, along with their 10th place $250, for their total weight of 49.70 pounds. The Senior team of Wade Schlaht and Tracy Mandzuik accepted another $1,000 prize along with the eighth place $350, their fish adding up to 51.2 pounds. This year’s lone youth team, Jeff Hughes and son Carter, accepted a $500 cheque in addition to the $400 for seventh place overall.
Tournament chair George Hahn noted that the small turnout of only 36 teams might have resulted from the change in date, with this year’s tournament moved up from later in June. “Next year we’re changing weekends,” he promised, adding that he also hopes to move tournament headquarters back to the Bonnyville rodeo grounds, rather than the campground along Highway 41.
