2008 GANDER MOUNTAIN COLORADO CLASSIC ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT

GRAND SLAM JANUARY 5, 2008

 

 

 

Temperatures were mild and the wind blew steady from the south west at 10-20 mph. Not enough wind to deter 94 teams from participating in the first leg of the Classic.

 

 

 

THE RESULTS 

 

 

 

TROUT

NAME                               TEAM            TOTAL LB.             BIG FISH              PAID

 

 

 

WHITE/JOHNSON                   5                  12.345                                              $376.00

BAIN/THOMPSON                 36                11.325                                                313.00

RICHARDSON/FIRESTONE 13                 11.22                                                 250.00

NOTHANGEL/OKORN           74                 9.85                                                 188.00

BOSTON/AMEN                     94                   8.855                                                 125.00

WHITE/JOHNSON                  5                                                       6.14                373.00

 

 

 

KOKANEE SALMON

 

 

 

NOTHANGEL/OKORN          74                  2.245                                                 532.00

TEKUBIE/WEIL                      49                  2.210                                                  406.00

RICHARD/FIRESTONE          13                 1.41                                                    315.00

NOTHANGEL/OKORN          74                                                    2.245              373.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTHERN PIKE

 

 

 

WILLIAMS/APHEL                 58                 13.415                                               376.00

GRASSI/FALK                        39                   13.030                                               313.00

PIOTROWSKI/EASTIN          29                    9.32                                                  250.00

CLAASEN/SCOTT                 56                    7.18                                                  188.00

BROCKSHIRE/SHUEY          60                    4.085                                                  125.00

GRASSI/FALK                       39                                                     13.03                  373.00
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIG CASH WINNERS

NOTHANGEL/OKORN        74                                                                          $1,093.00

WHITE/JOHNSON                 5                                                                                749.00

GRASSI/FALK                      39                                                                               686.00

RICHARDSON/FIRESTONE 13                                                                              565.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE COLORADO CLASSIC POINTS STANDINGS

TEAM                                        NUMBER                        POINTS

 

 

 

WHITE/JOHNSON                            5                                     60

*NOTHANGEL/OKORN                 74                                    60        .

GRASSI/FALK                                 39                                    55

RICHARDSON/FIRESTONE          13                                    40

WILLIAMS/APHELBACK              58                                    35

PIOTROWSKI/EASTIN                   29                                    25

*BAIN/THOMPSON                        36                                    24

*TEKUBIE/WEIL                             49                                    22

 

 

 

*Teams not yet registered for all three contests. Points awarded since they may still be in all three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MONEY

 

 

 

44 TEAMS @ $51.66                              $ 2,273.00

50 TEAMS @ $65.00                                3,250.00

 

 

 

                             TOTAL                       $ 5,523.00

 ADMIN, INSURANCE, FEES 25%       (  1,380.00)

 

 

 

                   NET ENTRIES                      $ 4,143.00

                   FINAL GRAND PRIZE        (    282.00)

                   SMALLEST PIKE                (    100.00)

                   NET CATEGORIES              $ 3,761.00)

 

 

 

EACH CATEGORY PAID                        $ 1,253.00

1ST PLACE
@ 30%                                         375.00

 

2ND PLACE
@ 25%                                         313.00

 

3RD PLACE
@ 20%                                         250.00

 

4TH PLACE
@ 15%                                         188.00

 

5TH PLACE
@ 10%                                         125.00

 

 

 

 

BIG FISH POT 56 TEAMS @ $20.00       $ 1,120.00

EACH CATEGORY PAID                         $    373.00

 

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE: ONLY THREE TEAMS WEIGHED IN SALMON SO 4TH AND 5TH PLACE MONEY WAS DIVIDED AMONG THE TOP THREE PLACES.

1ST PLACE
PAID $532.00

 

2ND PLACE
PAID 406.00

 

3RD PLACE
PAID 315.00

 

TEAM 74 NOTHANGEL/OKORN WON BIG

FISH SALMON AND FIRST PLACE
FOR A CASH PRIZE OF $905.00 FOR ONE FISH THAT WEIGHED 2.245 LB

 

        $325.00 DONATED TO THE SOUTH PARK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER
 
THE COMMENT
THERE WERE TEN MORE TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEARS GRAND SLAM AS COMPARED TO 2007
AS PREDICTED IN LAST WEEKS FISHING REPORT ONE SALMON WON A LOT OF MONEY
TEAM 5 WHITE/JOHNSON WILL GO TO THE SOUTH PARK ICE MASTERS TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE AS 2007 CHAMPIONS WITH MOMENTUM
NINETEEN CASH PRIZES WERE PAID WITH  SEVEN TEAMS WINNING MONEY HAVING DONE SO IN PREVIOUS YEARS CONTESTS 
 
 

SOUTH PARK ICE MASTERS: FEBRUARY 2, 2008 (2 fish per team total weight)

The morning AM temperatures were mild by previous days standards with the mercury only dipping slightly below zero by contest start time. The wind was not a factor as the day stayed calm and sunny until weigh in when some clouds rolled in and a breeze picked up. February often brings more difficult ice fishing and certainly the order of the day for most contestants was slow action. Thirty teams out of Ninety weighed in fish. But there were some great fish caught and great stories to tell.

                                                                     

TEAM            

 

1st   PLACE  MORRELL/LIENTZ                       9                 11.04 lbs              $915.00

2nd  PLACE   ROSCHAK/CALLAN                 31                 9.255                    766.00

3rd   PLACE  LAFOREST/MUMALO              1                   6.245                   603.00

4th   PLACE  BAIN/THOMPSON                     36                5.39                      457.00

 

5th   PLACE     MOORE
/ EASTON                         17                4.225                    292.00

 

6th   PLACE   BENTLEY/STACKONIS              6                  4.08                        48.00

 

7th   PLACE    RICHARDSON
/FIRESTONE        13                4.03                        48.00

 

8th  PLACE   KANZLER/KANZLER                  21                3.965                      48.00

9th   PLACE  GOASSAGE/WARNER                56                3.885                      48.00

10th PLACE
  BURKE/BURKE                            43                3.8                          48.00

 

11th PLACE  ELWELL/WEAVER                     40                3.68                        48.00

12th PLACE  GRANLAND/PETERSON           27                3.125                      48.00

13th PLACE  WATTERS/CLUBB                      26               3.045                       48.00

14th PLACE  FRIESS/FRIESS                            15               2.985                       48.00

15th PLACE  DANIELS/DANIELS                       4                2.815                       48.00

16th PLACE  BROOKSHIRE/SHUEY                60               2.77                         48.00

17th PLACE  KNOWLES/BETANCOURT         42               2.655                        48.00

18th PLACE  GRASSI/MARTNINEZ                 39              2.545                         48.00

 

 

 

BIG FISH POT   62 TEAMS @ $20.00  100% PAYOUT  $1,240.00

                      ROSCHAK/CALLAN                     31              7.215                  

TOTAL WINNINGS FOR TEAM 31 ROSCHAK/CALLAN                            $2,060.00                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLORADO CLASSIC POINT STANDING
 
TEAM                                           NUMBER                                                POINTS
*NOTHNAGEL/OKORN                   74                                                        62 
WHITE/JOHNSON                             5                                                          60
GRASSI/MARTINEZ                          39                                                        58
*ROSCHAK/CALLAN                      31                                                         49
RICHARDSON/FIRESTONE            13                                                         43
MORREL/LIENTZ                               9                                                         35 
WILLIAMS/APHELBACK                58                                                         35
*BAIN/THOMPSON                         36                                                         34
LAFOREST/MUMALO                     1                                                           25 
PIOTROWSKI/EASTER                    29                                                        25
MOORE/EASTON                             17                                                        15                    
BENTLEY/STACKONIS                    6                                                         13
KANZLER/KANZLER                      21                                                         13
ELWELL/WEAVER                           40                                                         13
GRANLUND/PETERSON                 27                                                         13
WATTERS/CLUBB                            26                                                         13
FRIESS/FRIESS                                 15                                                         13
*BROOKSHIRE/SHUEY                   60                                                         13
KNOWLES/BETANCOURT             42                                                         13
 
* Teams have been in first two contests and have been awarded points accordingly and are eligible for Colorado Classic Grand Prize providing they enter Marina March Madness. Final Grand Prize currently stands at $690.00 and should be at least $750.00 by contest day. Team 74 was not listed previously by mistake. They were in the Ice Masters and have registered early for MMM.
 
THE MONEY
Colorado Classic                46@ $51.66                                        $ 2,376.00*
Ice Masters                        44@ $65.00                                           2,860.00 
Administration,Insurance,
Permits                                                                                            (1,309.00)
CC Final Grand Prize         90@$3.00                                             (   270.00)
Net Cash Prize                                                                                $3,657.00
 * we reported 44 CC participants at Grand Slam but there were actually 46. $20.00 error on Grand Slam payout to be adjusted at March Madness.
 
CONTEST FUN FACTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Team 31 (BFP winner) and Team 9 (SPIM Champs) both hiked a long way to catch their fish. Team 31 went 500 yards out from Cross Creek but Team 9 beat that by hiking to East Bay from Witchers Cove.
The 7.215 lb Cuttbow BFP winner was caught at 11:40AM on a 1/100 oz. chartruese jig with wax worm.
Past winners weight since contest became trout only:
WEBER/STARR, Brighton  2005                         12.1 lbs
WILLIAMS/APHELBACK, Silverthorne  2006    7.87 lbs
WHITE/JOHNSON, Pueblo    2007                     9.77 lbs
 
In the first year of the contest 2003 before it was a team event and trout only Phillip Gaines, Gunnison won with a 4.10 lb Northern Pike. Now that was a slow day.
SHUEY/SHUEY, Buena Vista won the last year 2004 the contest was any specie two fish total weight with 16.4 lb.
 
TOTAL TROUT WEIGHED IN THIS YEAR FOR ALL TEAMS 113.88 lbs.
 
Team 58 Williams/Aphelback split up this contest with Perry putting all his eggs in the Granby basket. Ford showed up Saturday hoping to place here and run back to Granby and place there. Although Ford Williams did not place for Team 58 he did drive all the way back to Granby (1,300 contestants) and ended up winning 1st Place (trophy and $1,000.00) in the Grand Slam.Division heaviest weight for 1 Rainbow, 1 Brown, 1 Kokanee, 1 Mackinaw. Congratulations to Ford, truly one of the best competitive Colorado ice fisherman. Perry ended up in 8th Place at Granby in the Brown Division. 
 
Brandon White of Team 5 was unable to fish Saturday leaving team mate Bryan Johnson to fend for himself. We suppose your wife giving birth the day before the contest is a legitimate excuse. CONGRATULATIONS TO BRANDON AND HIS WIFE ON THEIR NEW BABY GIRL. "She may be small but she's a keeper"
 
 
 
MARINA MARCH MADNESS  MARCH 8, 2008
This is a unique event. Although it traditionally has fewer teams than the first two contests it is garnering new participants each year. There were 65 participating teams in 2007. The contest format which is disliked by some and the favorite for others essentially boils down to 5 one hour contests in a restricted fishing area. All contestants must be in the North Shore area and able to get to the weigh station on the ice within the 20 minute break time. Cash is paid and points are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place by weight each hour. There is also cash and points for the first fish caught each hour. During the 20 minute weigh in break teams have a chance to win cash and thousands of dollars in prizes by making free throw and three point basketball shots on the 11 Mile Marina ice basketball court. There are 46 Colorado Classic teams already preregistered for the event. This is also the only ice fishing contest that we know of that can actually be a spectator friendly contest. Friends and family come to watch and cheer on their favorite team as first fish catchers often have to dash to the weigh in station and out run another competitor for the first fish prize. You do not need to be signed up as a Colorado Classic contestant to participate in this contest and more than likely those that are signed up as CC aren't very enthusiastic about large numbers of one timers as they may act as spoilers in their quest for the Final Grand Prize. For questions and registration call toll free 1-877-725-3172.
 
  MARINA MARCH MADNESS

                                                    MARCH 8, 2008

                                                         RESULTS

 

 

 

This team event is restricted to designated fishing areas out from the 11 Mile Marina at North Shore . A series of 5 one hour contests with cash prizes paid for First Fish, 1st 2nd and 3rd  Places (by weight single fish any specie) each hour. Thousands of dollars were up for grabs in addition to dozens of prizes won at the three point line at the 11 Mile Marina Basketball Arena on Ice during weigh in breaks.

 

 

 

The weather initially looked threatening at the 7:00AM start time with a mild breeze giving way to a fabulous sunshine packed day that established a new meaning to Spring Ice Fishing. As the siren blew to signal the start 74 power augers fired up with teams racing to drill through 36 inches of ice, set up and score first fish. Catching was pretty darn good. Contestants lined up each hour to weigh in fish and take a few shots at the free throw and three point basketball on ice challenge. Extreme fun was had by all.

 

 

 

 HOUR ONE 7:00AM – 8:00AM *TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR CC

                         TEAM                      NAME                     WEIGHT        $$            

 

 

 

FIRST FISH         47         MARTINEZ/COOPER*                1.225         50.00

1ST PLACE           41         LEIBBRAND/LEIBBRAND         3.13         282.00

2ND PLACE         68         MCDOUGALD/HIATT                 2.025       170.00

3RD PLACE
          5          WHITE/JOHNSON*                      1.59         113.00

 

 

 

 

HOUR TWO 8:25AM – 9:25AM

 

 

 

FIRST FISH       71         SQUIRES/YOURK                        1.155          50.00

1ST PLACE         43        GREENE/GREENE                        4.49          282.00         

2ND PLACE        33        ERHARD/ERHARD*                     4.31          170.00

3RD PLACE
         5         WHITE/JOHNSON*                      4.28           113.00

 

 

 

 

HOUR THREE 9:50AM- 10:50AM

 

 

 

FIRST FISH      48         SHIPMAN/COLE                          1.41             50.00

1ST PLACE       63         SAUER/SAUER                             3.055         282.00

2NDPLACE        1          LAFOREST/MUMALO*               2.155         170.00

3RDPLACE       40         ELWELL/WEAVER*                    1.530          113.00

 

 

 

HOUR FOUR 11:20AM- 12:20PM

 

 

 

FIRST FISH    57          SHIPMAN/ANDERSON                1.12              50.00

1STPLACE        5          WHITE/JOHNSON*                       3.845          282.00

2ND PLACE    65         VERTOVEK/QUINTANA*           1.48            170.00

3RD PLACE    40           ELWELL/WEAVER*                     1.33            113.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUR FIVE 12:45PM – 1:45PM

 

 

 

FIRST FISH   49           GALLEGOS/GALLEGOS               .885             50.00

1ST PLACE   74           NOTHNAGEL/OKORN*             4.345           282.00

2ND PLACE
   5             WHITE/JOHNSON*                      2.465           170.00

 

3RD PLACE  31            ROSCHAK/CALLAN*                  1.585           113.00

 

 

 

FREE THROW CHAMPIONS

                     35             GANNON/HESSEN                                          100.00

 

 

 

COLORADO CLASSIC FINAL GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

                     1              WHITE/JOHNSON                                              792.00

 

 

 

BIG FISH POT**

                    41            LIEBBRAND/LIEBBRAND                              1,000.00***

**Random selection from top 5 qualified winners.

***Made qualifying Eagle Claw purchase to win additional $400.00 Bonus Prize Package

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLORADO CLASSIC FINAL TEAM POINT STANDING (top ten)

 

 

 

POINTS                            TEAM                                          TOTAL WINNINGS

135                                        5   WHITE/JOHNSON                     $ 2,219.00               
 
87                                        74   NOTHNAGEL/OKORN            $ 1,375.00

64                                         31  ROSHAK/CALLAN                   $ 2,173.00

58                                         39  GRASSI/FALK                                686.00

45                                           1  LAFOREST/MUMALO                   773.00

43                                         13  RICHARDSON/FIRESTONE          650.00

43                                         40  ELWELL/WEAVER                       274.00

35                                          9  MORELL/LIENTZ                           915.00

35                                       58  WILLIAMS/APHELBACK              376.00

34                                        36  BAIN/JOHNSON                              770.00

 

 

 

There are lots of great stories from this year’s event. Congratulations to Team 5 Brandon White and Bryan Johnson of Pueblo for their very impressive fishing, catching and scoring

two 3rd Place
’s,
one 2nd Place
and one 1st Place
to runaway with the Colorado Classic total points and winning the final Grand Prize. In this event it is all about scoring in multiple places in multiple hours and Team 5 did just that. After White missed the Ice Masters due to birth in the family and Johnson was shut out of any points, there were certainly lots of teams in contention going into Saturdays contest. Last year they came in second overall in the points standing but were still the 07 season’s top money winners at $2,500.00 and are the 08 season’s top money winners at $2,219.00. They were qualified for the BFP $1,000.00 drawing with their Hour
Four 1st Place
finish but lost the draw.

 

Father and son teams faired well as Doug and Corey Leibbrand Team 41 of Colorado Springs with the only Northern Pike weighed in all day tipping the scales at a meager 3.13 lb but good enough to win 1st Place in Hour One and the luck of the draw to capture the $1,000 BFP.

Father and son Don and Jared Greene Team 43 of Lakewood landed the biggest fish of the day at 4.49 lb. They could have also won first fish in Hour Two as competing teams raced to the table with first fish entries. Young Jared got to the weigh station first with a photo of the fish and his Dad lagging behind. He was summarily disqualified from FF because a photo doesn’t count. Good try!

Hour Two was simply awesome fishing with lots of teams catching fish. The three top winners were all over four pounds. Team 7 weighed in a 3.76 pounder that got zip in hour two but would have won money in any other hour.When the bite is on it’s ON!

Hour Three saw Paul A Sauer and Paul V Sauer Team 63 from Aurora take 1st Place with a great 3.055 Kokanee Salmon giving all three species in the lake at least one first place finish. There were numerous other Kokanee weighed in through out the day.

17 Teams out of 74 won cash prizes meaning 23% of the field won money.
112.38 pounds of fish were weighed in.  
Given the format of the contest and the fact that many anglers were close to the weigh station we were able to weigh and then release 50 fish. 
March Madness saw an increase in participation from 61 teams in 2007 to 74 teams this year.
The Colorado Classic Tournament series had 237 teams in 2007 and 264 this year.
Team 74 Nothnagel/Okorn finished 9th in the point standings with $942.00 in 2007 and had a strong second place finish this year and $1,375.00 in season winnings.
 

 

Congratulations to all the winners. We want to thank all of the contestants, sponsors, volunteers and friends that help make the 2008 Gander Mountain Colorado Classic Ice Fishing Tournament the best ice fishing contest in state. Look to new contest features appearing in 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MONEY

 

 

 

46 Teams @ 51.66                                $ 2,376.00

28 Teams @ 65.00                                   1,820.00

 

 

 

                                    TOTAL            $ 4,196.00

Admin Fee, Permit, Insurance               (1,049.00)

Net Cash Prizes Paid                            $ 3,147.00

GS/TT Final Grand Prize                           570.00

BFP 50 Teams @ $20.00 100% PO      $ 1,000.00

TOTAL CASH PRIZES PAID            $ 4,337.00