Riverside Bait & Tackle - Gas, Convenience, Deli

FISH FEST 2007 RESULTS: CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES

Ten teams competed, many sponsors were involved and over 350 people sampled. But when it was all over, the real winner of Fish Fest 2007 was the Warroad Area Boy Scouts. Over $1900 was raised at this fun and fishy fundraiser held on the banks of the Warroad River on Saturday, July 21!

This is the second year of this event in the Warroad Community. The idea started with Corey Steinbach, the owner of Riverside Bait and Tackle in Warroad who thought about hosting the walleye-fry competition after he attended the Warroad Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Chili Cook-Off last year. “It just made sense to me and surprised me that no one had done a fish fry competition up here. Everyone around here has a favorite walleye recipe that they brag about…so I thought, maybe we should give it a shot.”

Fish Fest 2007 was a costly event to put on, so Sponsors were needed to ensure its success as a fundraiser for the scouts. This year’s Fish Fest was sponsored by Riverside Bait and Tackle, Marvin Home Center, KQ92, Security State Bank, Lake Country Chevrolet Buick Pontiac, ADvantage Marketing, Springsteel Resort, Tom’s Tackle and Triple T Marine and Repair. Steinbach said, “Once we had support from these other sponsors, we knew we had our costs covered and all the money that we took in at the event could be donated to the Boy Scouts.”

Here’s where the fun really began…they needed teams to compete and fry the fish! At Saturday’s event there were 10 teams that cut, battered and fried fish like crazy to supply samples of their best walleye recipe to the over 350 in attendance. The teams competing included:

· Sweet Pea, Penny and Chili-Man with head cook Keith Cumming of Warroad.
· Team Riverside with head cook Jerry Steinbach of Felton, MN.
· Grumpy Old DJ’s with head cook Chuck Kenworthy of Warroad.
· Something Fishy with head cook Chris Wear of Moorhead, MN.
· Team Anderson with head cook Mike Anderson of Roseau.
· Team Camp Busch with head cook Pat Kimble of Roseau.
· Rainy River Shore Lunch with head cook Veronica Finders of Baudette.
· Brosey’s Fish-n-Storey with head cook Ted Storey of Warroad.
· Fish Pole Benders with head cook Jamie Bender of Warroad.
· Hawalleyeian Luau with head cook Fred Paradis of Warroad.

The teams prepared 30 to 60 pounds of walleye each as they vied for the cash, prizes and trophies on the line! But that’s not all; many teams took it upon themselves to serve side dishes with their fish! Tasters were also treated to free Root Beer Floats (provided by Coca-Cola).

The public was invited to Fish Fest to taste the ten flavors of walleye that the contestants prepared, public sampling ran from noon to 3 p.m. for just five dollars each. By 2:30 p.m., over 400 pounds of walleye had been devoured and the tasters walked away with a smile on their face!

Finally, the moment had arrived for the awards. A panel of 8 anonymous judges determined first through third place; the public voted for People’s Choice; the Showmanship award was judged anonymously as well. And the winners were:

1st place, winning $500 cash and a trophy: Team Anderson, head cook Mike Anderson of Roseau.

2nd place, winning a home theater system and trophy: Brosey’s Fish-n-Storey, with head Cook Ted Storey of Warroad.

3rd place, winning a 150 qt. cooler and trophy: Fish Pole Benders, with head cook Jamie Bender.

People’s Choice, winning a trophy: Team Anderson, head cook Mike Anderson of Roseau.

Showmanship Award, winning a trophy: Brosey’s Fish-n-Storey, with head Cook Ted Storey of Warroad.

A hearty, congratulations goes out to the winning teams, and a heart-felt thank you to all those who competed the sponsors of the event and the Boy Scouts who volunteered to work the event.

Fish Fest 2008 is set for Saturday, July 26. So start perfecting that walleye recipe and plan to join in the fun!