FLF to host ice fishing contest
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FAIRMONT-- Now that the lakes are frozen, the Fairmont Lakes Foundation, Inc. (FLF) is gearing up to host its annual ice fishing tournament, which will take place this Saturday. Proceeds from the tournament go toward the foundation's mission of enhancing the quality of Fairmont's lakes, increasing awareness of the lakes and preserving the quality of them.
Jim Utermarck, a board member and organizer of the event, shared that this is the eighth year for the ice fishing tournament. He admitted that for a time the foundation didn't know if the tournament could be held this year.
"Considering January 1 there was open water on all of the lakes, we didn't know what we were going to do. But then we saw it was going to get colder and we prayed for ice," Utermarck said.
Now, there is about 10 to 12 inches of ice covering the lakes so the tournament is on.
"We're hoping to get about 100 anglers. A lot of people have supported the ice fishing tournament over the years," Utermarck said.
While many of the participants are from Fairmont and Martin County, Utermarck said a good number come from Iowa and some even come from the Twin Cities area.
"It's not just members from our local community. It's nice to see other people coming," Utermarck said.
There is no age limit to be in the tournament and participants can fish on any of Fairmont's five lakes though Utermarck said Budd is one of the more popular to fish on as it's a good lake to catch Yellow Bass.
The cost to register is just $30 per angler. Utermarck said the money will go toward a few different things. The foundation has plans to stock the lakes with Perch this spring.
"We're going to do a vegetation planting on the west side of Sisseton. Some money will go toward that and that helps our initiative of clean water," Utermarck said.
People can register for the tournament online at fairmontlakesfoundation.com or opt to register the morning of the tournament at the Gomsrud Park Shelter House. Check-in is from 7 to 8:45 a.m. and fishing starts promptly at 9 a.m. with weigh-in beginning at 1 p.m.
There are a number of exciting prizes for those with the most or largest fish.
"For Yellow Bass, you can catch as many pounds as you want," Utermarck said.
First gets $750, second receives $350 and third place will get $200.
Whoever gets the biggest walleye and biggest panfish will receive $100 each. Other prizes include an Otter Ice House, Vexlar Flaher, Marcum Flasher, K-Drill and Strikemaster 24V Auger.
"This year, Mark Fujan from State Farm is giving a $100 gift certificate for the Baitshop for the biggest Crappie," Utermarck said.
He expressed appreciation for the community and its support of the tournament over the years.
"We couldn't do what we do if the community of Fairmont didn't support us. We have 30-some sponsors that pay anywhere from $150 to $350 and that sponsors us all year for our fishing tournaments, lake clean-ups and anything else we do," Utermarck said.
Overall, he said the community backs the Fairmont Lakes Foundation, Inc. and everything it does.
There are about 20 lifetime members and nearly 90 members. Any of the members are welcome to join the monthly meetings, which take place the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus (SMEC).
Utermarck and the rest of the board is excited for this Saturday's ice fishing tournament and hope that people view it both as a fun event and a way to support the local organization.
"People take it seriously and that's great but we just want everyone to have fun, enjoy it and keep coming out and supporting the Lakes Foundation," Utermarck said.