2009 Fishing Contest Results

Another exciting year long fishing contest has come to an end.

Our "Just for Fun Fishing Contest" is for all Oak Haven customers. We take the fish from the guests and measure them ourselves for clear and honest accuracy. We close the mouth and squeeze the tail. To encourage "Catch and Release" of those bigger fish, we suggest digital camera's be taken in the boat every day, along with a measuring device that can be easily read. With digital camera's, you should take ten pictures of any big fish being released alive. (Never take just one picture)

We tracked Nine different fish species in 2009. The Top Ten fish (measured by length, not weight) for all nine categories is posted in our Fish Cleaning House and in our Lodge all year long.

Seven of our Nine Categories were won by people from Out of State! That means just two categories were captured by guests from Minnesota.

Again...our contest is for fun, not for money. What you win is....getting your name here! As you should know...Oak Haven Resort is largely "about the kids" during the summer months.

And Kids did well in 2009!!!

ROCK BASS - Ten year old Austin Becker, a popular Oak Haven Resort regular from Clermont, Florida, became this year's Rock Bass Champion in early July when he landed his 11 1/2 incher. Duane Allard came in second with 11 1/4. Our Top Ten Rock Bass were all 10 3/4 inches to 11 1/2 inches.

PERCH - Twelve year old Cameron Charity came here with his group from Topeka, Kansas and became our Giant Perch Champion for 2009 when he landed a nice 12 1/2 incher in mid-July. Eddie Houi was second with a 12 1/4 incher. Dan Rauser 3rd at 12 1/8 inches and Zoraya Green came in 4th with a 12 inch Perch.

BLUEGILL - (Includes Sunfish and Pumpkinseed) - Renee and Jeff Nicholls come here often from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Jeff is a "Walleye Guy", but switched fishing rods and location when they found out the Big 'Gills were biting! Renee Nicholls became our Giant Bluegill Champion for 2009 when she landed a dandy 10 1/8th incher in September. Jeff landed a 10 incher and ended tied for 2nd with Sara Wyant and Lewie Simpkins. I wonder how many of you out there have ever caught a true ten inch Bluegill? It is a wonderful fish. Our Top Ten Bluegill for 2009 were all between 9 5/8 and 10 1/8 inches.

CRAPPIE - We have a tie for the Crappie Championship. Ten year old Nathan Sager, from Plainfield, Illinois, landed a huge 14 1/8th inch Crappie when visiting with his family in June. David Bigham was here in late May and he also landed a 14 1/8 inch Crappie. Right behind them were Duane Weaver of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (last years Crappie Champion) and Lewie Simpkins who each landed a 14 inch Crappie. Our Top Ten Crappies were all between 13 5/8 inches and 14 1/8 inches.

LARGEMOUTH BASS - Our 2009 Largemouth Bass Champion is Rodney Swartzentruber who came here with his wonderful family from Odon, Indiana and landed a huge 19 7/8 incher in late June. We had a three way tie for second at 19 inches between Cody Lageson, Randall Wagler and Scott Tyo. Our Top Ten Bass were all 18 inches or longer.

WALLEYE - Once in a while, I pick up a guest at the Bemidji Airport. John Black, Jr. had just flown in and was to hook up with his Dad and others at Oak Haven in early June. A couple days later, John Junior landed a 28 inch Walleye, which he photographed and released alive. Only five days later, Eddie Houi of Rockford, Illinois, landed a 28 inch Walleye which he photographed and released alive. But the Championship was taken by Owen Brummer of Waconia, Minnesota, when he landed a 28 1/8 incher in mid-August. Owen also photographed his fish and released it to be caught again. All three were landed on different lakes. (Oak Haven is on the Cass Lake Chain of Nine Lakes)

NORTHERN PIKE - Fourteen year old Koby Lund of Wilton, Iowa landed a true Trophy Class Northern Pike when he boated his 41 1/2 incher in mid-July. This wall mounter will be proudly displayed for many years. There's quite a story behind this fish....how the family "stuck it out"....in wind and rain on the final day of their week's vacation. Koby Lund is our Big Pike Champion for 2009! In early October, it looked as if Koby's winner would be challenged, but Todd Schumacher of Sioux City, Iowa, will have to settle for second with his nice 40 inch Pike. In late July, Chuck Wyant, of Byron, Illinois, landed a very nice 34 1/2 incher, which gave him 3rd place. Dan Tabbert was 4th at 32 3/4 inches. Bradley Lanners took 5th place with a 32 1/2 incher and 6th place was taken by Jan Whaley when she landed a 31 1/4 inch Pike.

MUSKY - Just like last year, our Musky Champion photograph is headed for the cover of our new brochure! Visiting Oak Haven Resort from Flower Mound, Texas...Jim Kasznia was here fishing with the Nelson Brothers. Using one of Oak Haven's nice rental boats, Jim landed a sweet 45 inch Musky on September 20th. This great fish was measured and multiple photo's were taken...then the monster was carefully released alive to fight again another day. (All Muskies under 50 inches must be released alive) Jim Kasznia of Flower Mound, Texas is our 2009 Musky Champion! Finishing second was Todd Schumacher from Sioux City, Iowa. Todd landed a 42 incher in early October. Seth Grasz of Elkhorn, Nebraska landed a 36 inch Musky, also in early October. Our 4th place Musky was landed by Dean Lanners. His 30 incher was boated in mid-August.

BULLHEAD - Yes, Bullhead. These fish are not commonly landed by our guests. Some folks won't eat them...calling them bottom feeders. I ask...what pollution upstream from Oak Haven concerns you? These are..."The Headwaters." Ten Bullheads measuring 12 inches or longer were accurately measured in our fish cleaning house. Our Champion is last year's Musky Champion....Mike Hoffman of Rockford, Illinois. Mike landed a whopping 16 inch Bullhead in early June! Mike Hoffman is Oak Haven Resort's Bullhead Champion for 2009. Kevin A. White took 2nd and 3rd with 13 3/4 and 13 1/4 inch Bullheads. Seasonal Camper Loren Compton caught the 4th biggest Bullhead....a 13 1/8th incher.

NEW BROCHURE - Just Printed....New Brochures for 2010.....that show 60 Great Photos....every one of them from 2009. They'll be going out in our Christmas Cards. If you'd like us to send you a few...just give us a call or send an email.

IMPROVEMENTS - Before we open in May, 2010...we will add Soft Water to the Resort! The Lodge is getting a new roof, insulation, new windows and new log siding. New windows around the indoor swimming pool. You may not recognize the outdoor pool come summer of 2010....Beautiful improvement plans underway now. Five new on-demand water heaters for Cabins 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10...replacing those tank heaters, combined with soft water, means much fresher water starting in 2010.

If you're looking for a clean and peaceful resort that's as "kid friendly" as they get....and you want endless fishing opportunities....here we are.

Located on the Cass Lake Chain of Nine Lakes...
On a small arm of the Headwaters of the Mississippi River...
Where the water is slow moving, non-flooding and crystal clear.

Vacation at Oak Haven.