Results from 2008 Big Jon Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic
See other previous winners' photos
Below is the article from the Daily Mining Gazette of Friday, May 30, 2008:
Big Jon Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic Draws Crowd
The Fifth Annual Big Jon Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic kicked off the U.P. fishing tournament season May 16-18. Fifty-two boats and 150 hardcore anglers braved raw, cold, and rough water to fill the scoreboard with lake trout, salmon, browns, steelhead, and even a lawyer.
The popular fundraiser event included a Ladies Powder Puff Derby, a barbecue, buffet cook-off and community picnic, and a fish fry at the Shamrock Bar. Six teams competed in the cook-off, serving 445 meals.
The event raised $6,500 for the Ontonagon County Cancer Association, an inspired achievement for a small, economically challenged community.
Men's largest lake trout - John Niskanen - 14.22
Women's largest lake trout - Ann Colgin - 5.69
Largest king salmon - Pat Pestka - 13.5
Largest coho - Will Stipanovich - 7.72
Largest steelhead – Wayne Boucher - 4.02
Largest brown - Ann Colgin - 4.90
1st - Dan Audette Jr. and Jon Tomcyck - 32.61
2nd - Mike Applecamp and John Niskanen - 31.86
3rd - Jim Johnson and Dennis Forslund – 31.12
4th - Dan Audette and Jim Richardson - 29.39
5th - Marcus Biermen and Ben Shadey - 29.14
6th - Kurt Masskotte and Dan Behnke - 23.76
7th - Pat Pestka and Andy Pestka - 21.18
8th - John Walker and Nathan Warner - 19.99
Ladies Powder Puff Derby
1st place - Elaine Pierce and Mary Nicolos - 14.13
2nd place - Pam aandnd Kayla Karttunen - 13.73
3rd place - Ann Colgin and Sandy Baker - 12.80
Below is the article from the Ironwood Globe of Friday, June 13, 2008:
Fishing tourney raises thousands for Ontonagon Cancer Association
By JAN TUCKER
Globe Staff Writer
ONTONAGON — The Big Jon Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic fishing tournament has raised thousands of dollars for the Ontonagon County Cancer Association, but the check given to them this week astounded association members.
Larry Greig, originator of the classic, and his friends who run the companion Classic Barbecue dinner competition, presented a check for $8,800 to cancer association treasurer Sandi Morin. Morin was overwhelmed with the total.
She said last year the fishing contest donation of $2,000 helped continue to pay for patient care when that portion of the budget was depleted.
Money collected in Ontonagon County remains in the county to assist cancer patients with bills not paid by insurance.
The association also sponsors free mammograms for women and PSA tests for men on alternating years.
Greig said local sponsors also make the classic possible.
"Even in hard economic times they have been so generous to us in their sponsorship," Greig said. The tourney attracts numbers of fishing enthusiasts to Ontonagon for top prize money.
The addition of a powder puff category also helped keep more entrants in the county overnight and assisted the local economy, he said.
About 30 percent of the entrants come from out of the area.
The barbecue contest and dinner has been an expansion of the classic and was held for the second time this year. Tom Domitrovich, Jerry Roehm, and Daryl Birely, along with many other volunteers, spearheaded the barbecue.
"All of Ontonagon should be proud of the many volunteers who make this possible," Greig said. "I have had e-mails, calls and other comments on how much fun the contestants had, noting how friendly the people of Ontonagon are and how they plan to return," Greig explained.
Greig has a special affinity for the cancer association. His mother, father, first wife, father-in-law and mother-in-law all died of the disease.
He was living downstate at the time and was governor of the Michigan Bow Hunters Association. Many people did not like bow hunting, and Greig sponsored some of the events, with the proceeds to be given to hospice, since that organization had done so much for his family.
But the impact of the Lake Trout Classic does not end with the donation to the cancer association. The fishermen donate their catch, and Harbor Town Cafe, under the direction of owner Joanne Lane, assisted by Shamrock owner, George Pestka, and his fiancee, Denise Thompson, host a fish fry at the Shamrock Bar in Ontonagon.
Proceeds of that fish fry are donated to Bay Cliff Health Camp.One man's tragic family history of cancer has resulted in helping many, many others get the financial help they need in fighting the disease.
Ontonagon County Cancer Association treasurer Sandi Morin, left, accepts a check for $8,800 from Larry Greig, center, sponsor of the Lake Trout Classic tourney. Also part of that Classic are the men who led the Classic barbecue dinner and contest—left to right, Tom Domitrovich, Jerry Roehm and Daryl Birely.
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