Baudette, MN (May 9, 2024)- For 18 years, Sportsman’s Lodge has strived to host the best sturgeon fishing tournament in the Midwest. And this year was no exception. Their Annual Sturgeon Tournament on the Rainy River was a spectacular event. On May 3rd and 4th, 187 anglers took advantage of the incredible sturgeon fishing this stretch of water has to offer.
This annual event is timed with a specific purpose… to coincide with the spring sturgeon bite. Over 251 sturgeon were caught and released over two days. Through participation by many gracious sponsors, anglers walked away with some sweet prizes, winners walked away with nice checks, and over $8,400 was raised for a great cause. At the end of the tournament, over $15,000 in cash and prizes were awarded.
As a catch-and-release contest, this event awards individual winners for each day of fishing. Each day the angler with the longest measured sturgeon is awarded $3,000 in cash, 2nd place $1,500 in cash, and a custom rod made by long-time Sportsman’s Guide Ralph Christopherson to the 3rd place winner. Prizes were also awarded in other categories including the largest sturgeon caught by a youth, woman, largest eelpout, largest sucker, and as well as many other door prizes.
This year’s top anglers include:
DAY ONE- May 3
First Place – Bill H. 66.5” x 28”
Second Place- Lenox 65.5” x 28”
Third Place- Dustin L. 63” x 24”
DAY TWO- May 4
First Place- Chris B. 67” x 28”
Second Place- Ben S. 64” 27.5”
Third Place- Roger H. 62.75” x 23”
OTHER WINNERS
Women’s Division- Kristina C 61” x 20”
Youth Division- Lenox 65.5” x 28”
In addition to the angler payouts, some of the proceeds from the event are donated to the Lake of the Woods Take a Kid Fishing program. Roughly $8,487 was raised in this two-day event. These funds will be used for program expenses, as well as to purchase lifetime fishing licenses that will be awarded at their event on June 19th. LOW Take a Kid Fishing is dedicated to promoting and teaching kids the lifelong sport of fishing. Through their own fundraising event, LOW Take a Kid Fishing hosts an essay contest for young anglers to win a lifetime fishing license. Participants write and submit an essay on how a Lifetime Fishing license would impact them, with the winner receiving that license.
