Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

He didnít want to go. He complained the entire drive in. He continued to complain as they sat on the ice, waiting for fish. At about 2:30 Mike Thibodeauís attitude changed when he pulled a 4.73 lbs. Northern Pike out of his fishing hole. The 4.73 lbs. Northern Pike won the 23rd Annual Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest.

Thibodeau said his friends have been coming to the Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest in Forest Lake for several years and told him he was coming along this year. Thibodeau, an Eau Claire native, said his buddy picked him up at 5:30 a.m. so they would make it to Forest Lake on time.

ìI was complaining when he picked me up,î Thibodeau said. ìI donít think I stopped complaining until I caught the fish. Theyíre probably going to pick on me now because I was whining all day.î

Thibodeau was using a borrowed tip up to catch his winning Northern. Thibodeau says he was actually answering a call from Mother Nature when the fish bit. Thibodeau said he had his line about six feet below the ice, but when he came back, the line was spinning as the fish was trying to get away.

ìI had a bit of a fight with the fish to get it in,î Thibodeau said. ìIt took about three to four minutes and there was a small crowd gathering.î

For bringing in the 4.73 lbs. Northern, Thibodeau won a brand new Dodge Ram from Clusiau Sales and Rental in Grand Rapids.
Thibodeau wasnít the only big winner at the 23rd Annual Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest. Anthony Thor of Maplewood led the contest for most of the day with his 3.70 lbs Northern, but in the end he finished second and took home a brand new Lund Boat. Mark Thalhuber of Wyoming took home a brand new Polaris ATV with his third place 2.76 lbs Northern.

For most of the competition, the P.A. announcer kept saying, ìbring up the small ones your friends are laughing at, it might win you $10,000.î

Mike Hachfeld of Dundas took that advice when he caught a .22 lbs. perch. Hachfeld had the 100th biggest fish. Hachfeldís .22 lbs perch earned him $10,000 cash.

The Hopkins Area Jaycees who host the event estimates that over 5000 people showed up to compete in this yearís event.

ìWe were really encouraged by the amount of people we had compared to last year,î Brad Johnson of the Hopkins Area Jaycees said.
While not everyone was able to win prizes, everyone had fun.

Corey Karkhoff of Monticello said he showed up for the chance to win the pickup truck. To Karkhoffís dismay he didnít win the truck, but he said it didnít matter anyway since the weather was nice.

Although winning a nice new car or $10,000 is the ultimate goal, Steven Hartmann of Playnesville began coming to the contest last year. This year Hartmann brought his boys and their wives, using the competition as a way to spend time together.

ìI canít believe how many people came out this year,î Hartmann said. ìThis is awesome.î

Ray Reuito of Andover took the competition as a chance to spend time with his son as well. Reuito brought his son Matt and his friend Nathan Anderson out to enjoy the weather and spend some time together.

ìI always have fun here and itís fun to watch the crowd of people,î Reuito said.

The Vietnam Veterans of America, St. Paul Chapter 320 was able to use the competition as a fundraiser. The veterans sold beer to thirsty ice fishermen. The veterans raised about $6000 that will go towards scholarships and sponsoring a library boat in Laos.

Next yearís contest has been tentatively set for Feb 4, 2006.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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