Salmon Derby Successful In Fort Peck
The inaugural Fort Peck Tournament Of Kings salmon fishing tournament is in the books. Winners of the $10,000 top prize for day one were David, Daniel and Benjamin Milam with 27.10 pounds. Jamie Dolen, Laura Dolen and Jessy Johnson took second with 25.35 pounds and Jody and Kathy Goodman took third with 24.95 pounds.
Day two winners were Greg Goodman, Ron Dickman and Shawn French with 28.350 pounds (including the tournament’s largest catch), followed by Mark Erickson, Nathan Lafl uer and Dean Fandrich in second with 27.250 pounds and Scott Collinsworth, Andy Schultz and Eric Mayer in third with 27.100 lbs. Youth anglers under 12 were awarded prizes both days.
The tournament ran from July 30 through Aug. 1, with all of the on land action taking place around the marina, including food and beverage vendors, daily raffles and culcutta.
Day one of fishing got off to a windy start on Friday as anglers battled winds with gusts reaching 25 miles per hour throughout the day on Fort Peck Lake. According to race organizers, conditions forced a handful of teams to hit the dock early, while others chose to wait out the weather and launch later in hopes of finding calmer conditions. The tournament’s full field of 150 teams showed up, with anglers from across Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and elsewhere taking to the water.
Day Two saw temps in excess of 100 degrees and periods of thick wildfire smoke. John Walker, who emceed much of the tournament and served as an online moderator, told this newspaper that the experience was a blast, despite the weather. “Being able to emcee the first-ever Tournament of Kings was a great experience, and honestly, the energy all weekend was something special,” Walker said.
“What stood out the most to me was the involvement from the young anglers. Seeing kids out there competing, learning and just having fun alongside their family really showed what this event can grow into and something we all need to focus on with our kids. It wasn’t just about competition, it was about getting the next generation involved and excited. For a first-year event, things came together really well and that’s a credit to the community stepping up and supporting it.”
Walker said the sporting aspects were also impressive. “The fishing didn’t disappoint,” he said. “We saw some great catches over the weekend, 48 salmon caught and it kept things exciting for both the anglers and the crowd. There’s nothing better than watching those weigh-ins and seeing what comes in, it definitely kept people engaged. Overall, it felt like more than just a tournament. It felt like the start of something that can really grow into a staple event for our area. I’m excited to see where it goes from here.”
For full standings and other information, visit glasgowchamber.net or check out the Fort Peck Tournament Of Kings Facebook page.
