Rock Creek Recap

As former long-time Chicago Cubs announcer, Harry Carey would say, HOLY COW, HOLY COW, HOLY COW…a two-day tournament catch of 93.58 pounds for champions Todd Riggs and Ken Schmidt of Glasgow! The 2007 Rock Creek Walleye champs have won the event 3 out of the last four years and literally shattered their own existing tournament and Ft. Peck Reservoir record of 77.16 pounds. Riggs and Schmidt pulled out this amazing catch out of deep water using lindy rigs and minnows. Congratulations to the champions and to all of the others that cashed a check.

Father-son team, Colby and Brock Louden from Circle came in second place with a respectful catch of 48.45 pounds from their ten fish limit. Third place honors went another father-son team, Gene and Garrett Pronto from Wolf Point with 45.55 pounds. The Pronto duo brought in a five fish limit the first day but they were only able to muster up two fish on day two. However, one was 10.22 pounds and the other 7.82 pounds.

For the first time in many, many years, fisherpersons were blessed with two absolutely gorgeous days on Fort Peck. Can you imagine, two days of 70 and 80 degree temperatures with very little wind, no bugs, no thunder storms and walleye cooperating for some. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Circuit Director, Jim Rettig showed he is still good for a big fish and him and his partner Ed Rettig pulled out the big fish for the tourney with a 33 ½ pig on Day 2. They released her to caught another day and keep the genetics alive and well. Way to go Rettigs.

Riggs and Schmidt located their huge walleyes in a few locations with five miles of Rock Creek Marina and the smallest fish in their catch was 7.36 pounds with the largest being 10.82 pounds. Their weigh card on Saturday had me drooling as it showed a limit of 27 to 30 ½ inch fish for a total of 46.64 pounds and then went out a topped that weight with a 46.94 card on Sunday. My hat is off to this team from Glasgow whom have the “proof in the pudding” that they have got this tournament pegged and are without a doubt a couple of outstanding fishermen. By shattering the existing Rock Creek Tournament record the team the also won the extra $1000 bounty to go with their two-day winnings of $5200. I mentioned to Ken and Todd a new challenge has been established…triple digits. I truly believe with the big fish in Ft. Peck, it is only a matter of time before somebody cracks the century mark. Can you believe this ten fish catch? These numbers rival or exceed the catches on Lake Eire. I don’t know of the largest catch in the United States or North America, but this has to be right up towards the top of the list. When we established the bounty for the tourney we felt pretty secure that it wouldn’t be broken and the Glasgow Distributing team absolutely blows it away. We were happy to award to such a deserving pair of anglers and wish them the best of luck at Devils Lake and for the rest of their season.

Miles City anglers, Frank Hartman and Randy King were the Cool Under Pressure team by advancing 40 places from Day 1 to Day 2 with a 20.71 pound second day. These cool guys showed it is not over until it’s over on Peck after a goose egg the first day. Ron and Denise Garfield from Wolf Point won the Mixed Couple award with a 28.32 pound catch. Atta boys and girls, to these folks and thanks to everybody who fished this year’s event. Thanks Rock Creek Marina and Alvie and his crew! See ya next year.

Steve Harada