By Joseph Back
Warm on land. Colder on the flat and windswept ice plain that is Miller Dam Lake/Chequamegon Flowage presently. With ice measuring between 14 to 18 inches and a warming house on shore, the crowds turned out to Miller Dam Lake Jan. 25 for the 23rd annual Miller Dam Lake Association Ice Fishing Contest.
With bratwurst, hot dogs, chips, and cookies for refreshments along with soda, beer, and water, the once a year contest featured several raffle items as well. Among them were ice augers, several guns, and fishing equipment.
Put on by the Miller Dam Lake Association with numerous sponsoring businesses, the 23rd annual Miller Dam Lake fishing contest winners were as follows:
Kids fishing contest winners
Perch
First Place - Conner Rick, 8 oz. 10 1/4 inches
Second Place - William Baker, 5 oz 9 1/2 inches
Bluegill
First Place - Behr Kowalczyk, 8 oz. 8 1/2 inches
Second Place - Hayda Penk, 8 oz. 8 3/4 inches
Crappie
First Place - Grant Pattsa, 1 lb. 3 oz. 12 1/2 inches
Second Place - Matthew Kuklianski, 12 oz. 13 inches
Bass
First Place - Tanner Miller, 5 lbs. 6 oz. 21 inches
Second Place - Isaac Briski, 3 lbs. 7 oz. 18 1/2 inches
Walleye
None caught
Northern
First Place - Gunner Lemke, 15 lb. 9 oz. 38 1/2 inches
Second Place - Kye Joiner, 12 lb. 10 oz. 35 1/2 inches
Adult fishing contest winners
Perch
First Place - Anthony Fazzari, 6 oz. 10 inches
Second Place - Cory Niggeman, 5 oz. 9 inches
Bluegill
First Place - Ethan Schultz, 10 oz. 9 1/2 inches
Second Place - McKinze Webster, 10 oz. 9 1/4 inches
Crappie
First Place - Jerry Lingen, 1 lb. 6 oz. 13 1/4 inches
Second Place - Jim Povda, 1 lb. 5 oz. 15 1/4 inches
Bass
First Place - Virvil Wysocki 5 lbs. 5 oz. 21 inches
Second Place - Hayden Rakobec, 4 lbs. 3 oz. 19 1/2 inches
Walleye
None caught
Northern
First Place - Beau Pockat, 12 lbs., 6 oz. 35 3/4 inches
Second Place - Lucas Stahake, 9 lbs. 14 oz. 34 1/4 inches