Sleepy Eye Lake, February 22, 2024.  In 45-degree winter weather, groups of people from the New Ulm FFA set out to try and catch the longest fish to win a prize.

John Sondag set up with Lucas Sondag-Bode and struggled to catch a fish for the whole 4 hours of the contest. Tucker Clemon and Tracker Clemon set up about 100 yards away from them and were reeling in lots of fish.

“I missed the fish three times before I caught the winning northern pike,” said Cody Serbus, one of the contestants.

The highlight of the competition came when Cody Serbus reeled in an impressive 24 1/2 inch Northern Pike, securing the largest fish award. Meanwhile, Tucker Clemon took home the title for the most variety of fish caught.

Adam Mages brought out his 16 ft Ice Castle, which the host of the event, Jeff Nelson, and a few other people sat in. They didn’t catch any big fish in there but caught a lot of laughs. They were also cooking a pizza in that house when everyone else was fishing their souls away.