Airmen take to Lake Wisconsin for fishing tourney

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue
  • 115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TRUAX FIELD, WIS. --  Jesse Ramirez and Dave Dahlke reeled in a combined 15.51 pounds to best nine other teams in the Third Annual 115th Fighter Wing Fishing Tournament on Lake Wisconsin May 8. 

The winning team turned in six Largemouth Bass for a convincing victory over second place finishers Dan Richardson and Shane Holden who caught three Largemouth Bass for a combined weight of 6.18 pounds. 

"I felt really good about our catch, but in the end, we just got plain out fished," said Richardson. "Although I would've have liked to take first place, I had a great day out on the lake." 

For other participants, the tournament was not only about the spirit of competition, but the camaraderie as well. Jason Kasten was able to pair up with his father for the day-long event. 

"The 115 FW fishing tournament is something my Dad and I look forward to every year," Kasten said. "It gives us a reason to get together and enjoy a day of fishing. Finishing third place this year just was another added bonus."  

Jason and his father caught two Saugers measuring more than 18 inches long for a combined weight of 4.87 pounds. 

Individual awards were presented to Dan Pickarts for winning the biggest "rough fish" class with a 10 pound Carp and to Dahlke for winning the biggest Bass category with a 3 pound Largemouth Bass. 

Other top finishers were the teams of Robert and Nick Kopesky and Scott Ebert and Jarrett Calhoun weighing in at 2.33 pounds and 2.2 pounds respectively. 

This year's tournament was the biggest tournament yet and the tournament director, Dahlke, only sees the event getting bigger and better in the future. 

"We had a great turn-out for this years event. It seems that every year we get a few more participants as the word spreads among unit members." said Dahlke. "I'm hoping that the 2010 tournament will bring around 25 to 30 participants with more people wanting to fish who own a boat. I hope to see more people during next years tournament."