Nine-year-old Anitra Fortin won the children’s division of the VFW Post 6507 Ice fishing tournament in Chassell Saturday with this 8.8 pound Northern pike. After taking a year off due to poor ice last year, the annual event drew a large crowd. (Photo courtesy of Chad Fortin)

CHASSELL — VFW Post 6507 in Chassell held its annual ice fishing tournament for both children and adults Satuday after having canceled last year’s event due to weather conditions. This year, the water off of Chassell’s Centennial Park had numerous pop-up ice shelters coating the ice with everyone glad to return to their favorite winter pastime.

The tournament began at 7 a.m. with the children’s portion (age 1-15) ending at 1 p.m. and the adults’ ending at 7 p.m. The tournament followed by Michigan DNR regulations for fish size and possession with the children being awarded for the three biggest overall fish and smallest fish. The adults’ rules gave them the chance to win five places for the heaviest northern pike, walleye and crappie, and two places for perch.

The day of the tournament was warmer comparatively to previous weather with wind chills well below zero. Fishermen everywhere expressed relief to be able to enjoy the winter in tolerable temperatures, and spirits were high throughout.

It was a special day for two and 1/2 year old Ronan Easterling who caught his first ever fish alongside his mother Claire and his aunt Sandra Isaacson.

Isaacson had been ice fishing before, but for Ronan and Claire it was their first time out on the ice. Isaacson enjoyed watching Ronan catching a little perch.

“I don’t know if he quite realized what was going on, because we’ve casted before and reeled quite a bit,” Isaacson said. “And then once he saw the fish, he said, ‘It’s a huge fish!’ It’s probably a couple inches maybe. But that was pretty fun, and now he’s ready to catch some more; I think the adrenaline that was released is definitely going to keep going.”

Isaacson also said that she thought it was important that events such as this continue to keep children interested in outdoor activities. She said that it is crucial to have children exposed to the elements and get fresh air in an activity.

“So many people grow up not liking winter, because it’s kind of a rough time of year. But for the kids, it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Also out on the ice was Oliver Campbell, who along with his family have been participating in the tournament for years. Campbell said the event allows folks with certain interests to gather and enjoy each others’ company, and provides something to do when his family meets up. Campbell said ice fishing is something unique to northern regions of the country and adding a competition to it just expands the fun.

“If you win and get a top fish, it’s always fun to brag around with family, just to say you got better, but [it is] nothing truly personal or anything,” he said. “We all love ice fishing.”

Once the children’s portion of the tournament concluded, they made their way to the VFW Hall where the fish were weighed and the winners determined. Clovis Fortin won the smallest fish with a 0.02 pound perch, Jakob Stromer won third place with a 5.37 pound walleye, Xavier Maggio won second place with a 6.23 pound pike and Anitra Fortin won first place with an 8.88 pound pike.

Nine-year-old Anitra spent three to four minutes pulling up on the pike that bit as soon as she had changed up her bait.

“Right when I put it down, I was just wanting to see if the fish was alive and still swimming,” she said. “And I just pulled it up. It was so heavy and I said ‘I can’t lift it up.’ And it was dragging my line so hard. My hand was kind of sore after bringing it up.”

The announcer of the children’s portion, Buster Roberts, said he and others were ecstatic to see over 70 children participating in the tournament and partaking in an activity that has been passed down for generations.

“It’s our heritage,” Buster said. “If we don’t have young people getting involved the sport will dissolve, and that is something that we can’t let happen. You need a voice, and you need numbers. You hope we can just get people hooked. No pun intended.”

The winners of the biggest fish were given bicycles and all other participants were given door prizes consisting of fishing poles and other items. The adults were fishing for cash prizes made up of all the participants’ entry fees.

The perch winner was Jack Campbell with a 0.33 pound perch, and second place was tied between Jennifer Rothenberger and Carl Crawford at 0.31 lbs. First place for crappie went to Jon Crawford, whose fish weighed in at 1.23 lbs. First place for the heaviest walleye went to Keedin Roberts with a plump fish weighing 8.39 lbs. Second place went to Blaine Riutta who caught an 8.1 lb. trophy.

The largest fish were northern pike taking all five places in that category. Second place went to John Lassila for his 12.91 pike. First place in this category and the heaviest fish caught throughout the whole day went to Jackie Kemper and her 14.88 pound pike.