5th Annual Fish Fest is Set for July 24

More Fish Fest info & contestant rules

It's a Walleye Fry Competition certainly, but more than that, it's a family-focused, community event that will tantalize your taste buds and raise money for our local Cub Scouts.

Fish Fest 2010 returns to the banks of the Warroad River on Saturday, July 24. This Walleye Fry Competition is in its fifth year running and has become a very popular event in the area. Teams will compete for cash prizes and pride as they fry their best walleye. The public is welcome to attend the event and sample some of the best walleye recipes in the area.

“It's all you can sample walleye for a very small fee,” said Cub Scout leader Brian McMahon, “in order to sample, you must have a FISH FEST 2010 button. The buttons are discounted if you buy them early. All proceeds for the event will go to the Warroad Cub Scout Pack 151. We'll use that money to help fund some fun things for the boys and also community minded projects.” FISH FEST 2010 buttons are available now at local businesses including Riverside Bait & Tackle, Marvin Home Center, Doug's Supermarket-Warroad and Security State Bank.

The public is invited and encouraged to vote for their favorite to determine the People's Choice winner. A panel of judges will determine first through third place. Judging categories are flavor, texture and presentation. This event is about more than just walleye, teams compete for the coveted Showmanship trophy as well.

Teams will begin preparations around 8 a.m. on Saturday. The public tasting will start at 12:30 p.m and go until the walleye runs out, or 3 p.m., whichever happens first.

In addition to the walleye sampling, the Cub Scouts will be providing information and activities, there will be some sponsor and vendor displays and free root beer floats for everyone.

Those wishing to compete in the Walleye Fry Competition can sign up through Friday, July 23. There is an entry fee discount if teams sign up by July 15. New this year--the contestants will be competing for all cash prizes and their frying oil will be supplied for them. Space is limited to the first 12 paid teams. For more information or to register visit www.fishwarroad.com or call Sara at 218-386-3522.

Thank you to the Sponsors of Fish Fest 2010: Security State Bank of Warroad, Tom's Tackle, Marvin Home Center, KQ92 Radio, Riverside Bait and Tackle, Doug's Supermarket-Warroad, The Shed, Lake Country Chevrolet-Buick, Johnson's Electric, and the Warroad Pioneer.
 

FISH FEST 2009 RESULTS:

1ST PLACE:  TEAM RIVERSIDE--John and Christy Ramsey
2ND PLACE:  TEAM ANDERSON--Mike, Cody and Kaylie Anderson, Roseau
3RD PLACE: SOMETHING FISHY--Chris and Nikki Wear, Moorhead
PEOPLE'S CHOICE:  TEAM ANDERSON--Mike, Cody and Kaylie Anderson, Roseau
SHOWMANSHIP:  SPRINGSTEEL RESORT--Angie Lalin, Gina Dahl and Chassidy Strom

The Warroad Boy Scouts received a donation totaling over $2600! 
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Fish Fest 2009 returns to the banks of the Warroad River on Saturday, July 25.  This Walleye Fry Competition is in its fourth year running as a fundraiser for the Warroad Boy Scouts.  Teams will compete for over $1200 in prizes and pride as they fry their best walleye.  The public is welcome to attend the event and sample some of the best walleye recipes in the area.   

Admission is a Fish Fest button available now at select area businesses for a pre-sale discount. “It’s all you can sample walleye for only $5 if you pre-buy your button,” said one of the event sponsors Corey Steinbach of Riverside Bait and Tackle, “you just can’t find a Walleye Fry anywhere for that amount of money.”   The Fish Fest 2009 button will be available for purchase at the gate the day of the event for $7.   

FISH FEST BUTTON DESIGN WINNER ANNOUNCED! 

With a humble yet steady grin, 12 year old Jackson Nash of Warroad accepted his $100 cash prize from Riverside Bait and Tackle for winning the 2009 Fish Fest Button Design Contest.  The hand-drawn image features a striking rendition of a walleye with unique letters forming the words Fish Fest 2009.   

Jackson’s Dad, Brad Nash, was proud to let the Fish Fest organizers know that the lettering used on the button is something that Jackson has been perfecting for a while now.  This young man has an apparent entrepreneurial spirit; the fish hook lettering featured on his design may be part of a much bigger business someday!   

Jackson, while quiet, did let us know that he does quite a bit of drawing.  “This is the first contest I have won,” Jackson said, “but I do draw a lot in notebooks and things.”  Well Jackson, the Fish Fest crew thinks you’ve got talent!  Congratulations, this year’s event goers will certainly wear your design with pride.   

Fish Fest 2009 returns to the banks of the Warroad River on Saturday, July 25.  This Walleye Fry Competition is in its fourth year running as a fundraiser for the Warroad Boy Scouts.  Teams will compete for over $1200 in prizes and pride as they fry their best walleye.  The public is welcome to attend the event and sample some of the best walleye recipes in the area.  

Admission is a Fish Fest button available now at select area businesses for a pre-sale discount. “It’s all you can sample walleye for only $5 if you pre-buy your button,” said one of the event sponsors Corey Steinbach of Riverside Bait and Tackle, “you just can’t find a Walleye Fry anywhere for that amount of money.”   The Fish Fest 2009 button will be available for purchase at the gate the day of the event for $7.  

FISH FEST 2008 RESULTS: 

Fish Fest 2008

Ten teams competed, many sponsors were involved and over 400 people sampled. But when it was all over, the real winner of Fish Fest 2008 was the Warroad Area Boy Scouts. $2200 was raised at this fun and fishy fundraiser held on the banks of the Warroad River on Saturday, July 26!

This is the third 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 a walleye-fry competition that resembled a Rib Fest. “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 2008 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, Tom’s Tackle, Springsteel Resort, ADvantage Marketing, Johnson’s Electric and Soulutions.

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 400 in attendance. The teams competing included:

• The Trading Post Gift Shop and Buoy Drive In with head cook Keith Cumming of Warroad.
• Team Riverside with head cook Dave Edberg of Skime, MN.
• Triple T Marine and Repair with head cook Mark Jegela of Williams.
• Something Fishy with head cook Chris Wear of Moorhead, MN.
• Team Anderson with head cook Mike Anderson of Roseau.
• Sportsman’s Lodge with head cook Erica Ward of Baudette.
• Springsteel Resort with head cook Judy Vomachka of Warroad.
• Brosie’s Fish-n-Storey with head cook Ted Storey of Warroad.
• Jake’s Fish Pole Benders with head cook Jamie Bender of Warroad.
• Four-Wheelin’ Girls Rock with head cook Penny Turgeon 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.

The public was invited to Fish Fest to taste the ten flavors of walleye that the contestants prepared, public sampling ran from 12:30 to 3 p.m. By 2:30 p.m., over 320 pounds of walleye had been devoured and the tasters walked away with a full belly and 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: Sportsman’s Lodge with head cook Erica Ward of Baudette.

2nd place, winning a Vexilar and trophy: Brosey’s Fish-n-Storey, with head cook Ted Storey of Warroad.

3rd place, winning a 150 qt. cooler and trophy: Team Anderson with head cook Mike Anderson of Roseau.

People’s Choice, winning a trophy: Jake’s Fish Pole Benders with head cook Jamie Bender of Warroad.

Showmanship Award, winning a $100 gift certificate to Soulutions and a trophy: Jake’s Fish Pole Benders with head cook Jamie Bender 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.

Discussions for next year’s Fish Fest are already underway. So start perfecting that walleye recipe and plan to join in the fun of Fish Fest 2009!
 

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