by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
Scott Olson, Tim Molstad and Dan Kormick, all of Thief River Falls, were the big winners at the 16th Annual Lions Fishing Tournament Saturday, June 24.
Olson won the walleye category with a 5.61-pound fish, edging runner-up Josh Bernier of Thief River Falls, who also brought in a big walleye at 5.09 pounds. Sam Pahlen of Red Lake Falls finished third with a 4.12-pound walleye.
Molstad repeated as a winner in the Northern Pike category. In addition to being the biggest Northern Pike, Molstad’s 10.88-pound pike was the biggest fish weighed in all-day. Joining Molstad on the Northern Pike leaderboard were Brad Svir of Thief River Falls with a 7.41-pound pike and Aaron Sigerud of Goodridge with a 6.64-pound pike in third place.
Carp, catfish and sheephead populated the “Other” category, with Kormick taking the top spot with a 7.25-pound carp. Second place in the category went to Dawson Erickson of Thief River Falls with a 7.1-pound catfish, and third went to Stephanie Kormick of Thief River Falls with a 4.85-pound sheepshead.
The top three finishers in each category received cash prizes – $1,000 for first, $500 for second, and $250 for third – with rod and reel combos awarded to places four through 10 in each category.
Fishing took place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a live weigh-in from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This year’s tournament featured 129 total participants, including 21 children age 12 and under. The tournament grew in entries compared to 2022, which was held on Father’s Day weekend after historically being held the third week of August.
The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2021 due to low water levels on the river.
“We had a better turnout than last year even with the rainy weather,” said Lars Dyrud, event organizer. “Fish sizes were also much bigger than last year.”
Best walleye division ever?
The 2023 Lions Fishing Tournament will be remembered for big walleye. Last year’s top walleye, a 3.12-pounder caught by Gary Heden of Thief River Falls, would have placed 10th this year.
Longtime event emcee Curt Quesnell said the leaderboard was the biggest he’d seen in the tournament.
This year’s 10th place walleye, a 3.05-pound fish caught by Lyle Olson of Thief River Falls, would have finished second in 2022, third in 2019, tied for fourth in 2018 and fourth in 2017.
Keeping it in the family
Molstad repeated as winner of the Northern Pike category Saturday. Last year, he brought in the top fish in the category with a modest 5.48-pound pike and he repeated the feat with a 10.88-pound pike this year.
The last winner of the category besides Molstad was Molstad’s first cousin Jason Haglund, who won the category with a 12.06-pound pike in 2019.
• Prizes/Sponsors for each category – 1. $1,000 TRF Lions; 2. $500 TRF Lions; 3. $250 TRF Lions; 4. Rod/Reel Combo Northwest Eye Center; 5. Rod/Reel Combo Purdy’s Shoe Store; 6. Rod/Reel Combo Paint & Glass; 7. Rod/Reel Combo Wings; 8. Rod/Reel Combo Sally Wolff State Farm Insurance; 9. Rod/Reel Combo Pat Thibert Edward Jones; 10. Rod/Reel Combo The Times.
• Walleye – 1. Scott Olson, Thief River Falls, 5.61; 2. Josh Bernier, Thief River Falls, 5.09; 3. Sam Pahlen, Red Lake Falls, 4.12; 4. Gerald Trickle, Moorhead, 3.93; 5. Landon Wikert, Thief River Falls, 3.90; 6. Shawn Olson, Bovey, 3.84; 7. Luke Paulson, Goodridge, 3.76; 8. Jonathan Pream, Thief River Falls, 3.36; 9. Timothy Pahlen, Red Lake Falls, 3.28; 10. Lyle Olson, Thief River Falls, 3.05.
• Northern – 1. Tim Molstad, Thief River Falls, 10.88; 2. Brad Svir, Thief River Falls, 7.41; 3. Aaron Sigerud, Goodridge, 6.64; 4. Austin Przybylski, Thief River Falls, 5.26; 5. Joshua Haglund, Thief River Falls, 4.87; 6. Griffin Newland, Thief River Falls, 4.15; 7. Jonah Lee (Y), Thief River Falls, 3.29; 8. Thomas Vetter (Y), West Fargo, N.D., 3.17; 9. Timothy Pahlen, Red Lake Falls, 3.12; 10. Brenda Tischer, Thief River Falls, 2.74.
• Other – Dan Kormick (carp), Thief River Falls, 7.25; 2. Dawson Erickson (catfish), Thief River Falls, 7.10; 3. Stephanie Kormick (sheephead), Thief River Falls, 4.85; 4. James Hodny (catfish), Newfolden, 4.76; 5. Andres Cortez (sheephead), Thief River Falls, 4.60; 6. Patrick Porter (catfish), Thief River Falls, 4.54; 7. Brock Borchardt (catfish), Thief River Falls, 4.50; 8. Brian Steenerson (catfish), St. Hilaire, 4.11; 9. Travis Dagen (carp), Thief River Falls, 3.69; 10. Maxwell Johnson (Y) (sheephead), East Grand Forks, 3.18.
• Youth – 1. Jonah Lee, Northern, 3.29; 2. Timothy Pahlen, Walleye, 3.28; 3. Maxwell Johnson, Sheephead, 3.18.
• High-5 Money Bags – Jeremy Haglund, East Grand Forks, $250.
• Lucky Lion Prize – Janice Johnson, Thief River Falls, $500.