Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Catfish Classic Tournament Returns for 16th Year In Glasgow

Not only a local favorite fishing tournament, but Brenner Flaten, who has helped run and organize the event every year for 16 years, says it’s one of the top five fishing events in the nation. The tournament is so popular that Flaten said the tournament for this year was full 358 days before the tournament began.

Coming to Glasgow for the weekend will be 80 two-person teams who will have eight hours to catch the biggest catfish they can grab in the local Milk River. The Milk River Catfish Classic is one of four circuit tournaments under the Montana Catfish Association. The teams will meet up in the dirt parking lot across from D&G at just before 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 this year to hear the rules of the competition. They’ll be released in staggered starts to help with the congestion that comes as people rush off to their trucks and fishing poles.

“Everyone takes this competition seriously, people sprint to their trucks,” Flaten said about the reason they started to release the teams in “flights.” He said they have been doing the slow release of fishermen for the last five or six years to avoid accidents.

The fishermen will have to bring back five live catfish to be weighed in by midnight. Flaten said they’ll start weighing fish in around 11:15 p.m. and it usually takes until about 1 a.m. to finish it up. All the fishermen are hoping for the top prize: $1,000 in cash. All the tournament entry fees go back to the prizes that are given away to the top 20 teams. Sponsors help kick in some of the prizes given, and Flaten said that the Montana Catfish Association kicks in as well. The $4,000 raised for fees all goes back to those who enter the tournament, and Flaten added that this year they’re giving away $4,300 in prizes.

To take that stack of cash, the fishermen get to weigh in their top five catfish. The total of all five fish determines the winner. Flaten added that usually the winner takes home the $200 given to the top fish of the tournament as well.

This catfish tournament has been around about seven years longer than the other tournaments. Because the tournament is so popular and fills up so fast Flaten said that next year they’re looking at changing how to enter. He explained they cap out at 80 teams so it doesn’t get too crowded around the water, which keeps this a popular event.

“This has turned into an awesome event,” Flaten said.

Another tradition that will continue is the street dance and party at the Montana Bar the night before the tournament. Flaten said that thanks to one of their sponsors, Farm Equipment Sales, they will be able to bring in a cover band for AC/DC called Hell’s Belles. The all-female band has traveled all over the world, and now they are coming to Glasgow. While the tournament is full, the entire community is invited to come and enjoy Hell’s Belles.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/10/2024 08:18