Lake Sunrise
fishing, fishing tournament

Big Fish Classic | Rathbun Lake

If you know me, you know I love sports and I love fishing. My “reel” job as the marketing director at the Iowa Games/Iowa Sports Foundation has allowed me to be part of the Iowa Games Big Fish Classic hosted by Midwest Game Fish. This event started in 2019 and was a great event for both bass and catfish. This year we decided to add a crappie division.

Big Fish Classic

Last year’s tournament had 59 anglers in the bass division and 23 in the catfish division. Hourly payouts were given to the top 3 in each divisions. Over $3,600 was given in the payouts in addition to Bass Pro Shop gift cards for the biggest bass and biggest catfish.

Hourly Payout Example (50 Participants)
1st: $196.88
2nd: $56.25
3rd: $28.13

After 13 years with the Iowa Games, I was finally able to convince my superiors that we needed to do a fishing tournament. With the assistance of an old friend, Rob Welch of Midwest Game Fish, we were able to put together this tournament. With the success of the first year tournament, we are bringing it back in 2020. In addition to the bass and catfish divisions, we will be offering a crappie division.

DATE: Sunday, August 9, 2020
CHECK-IN: 5:30 AM, Honey Creek State Park Ramp
FISHING BEGINS: 7:00 AM

To learn more and register for the tournament, CLICK HERE.

I hope to see you at the lake on August 9. Who knows…maybe my boss will let me fish!

fishing

Iowa Crappies

Mike and I headed out and in search of walleyes and stumbled upon some crappies. In all reality we had only fished the lake a couple of times in the past and had high hopes. No walleye, but some nice crappies.

It was a fun day of catching crappies on rippin’ raps…with Mikes 3 pound bass as the kicker.

Check out the video below for a day of fun and fishin’!

fishing

Fish of a Lifetime?

Some say the Muskie is a fish of a lifetime. I do agree, but this one was only pushing 10lbs. I’m not disagreeing, it is a nice fish.

I know there are bigger ones swimming in this lake because I’ve seen them caught, and I was lucky. I was fishing for walleye this cold fall day and it hit my 3/8 oz lead head and 4 inch twister.

I’m not going to complain, it put up a great fight, but was it a fish of a lifetime? I’m going to say NO. A 30 plus pound Muskie is a fish of a lifetime.

Until next…tight lines and fish on!