June 02, 2007 by Montana Cats Staff
Glasgow 6/2/07- When catfisherman talk about 6.5 inches they are usually referring to the size of their sucker minnows, not the amount of rain that fell in the month of May in the Glasgow area. The record rainfall had a HUGE effect on the fishing conditions, with the river reaching near flood stage in much of the tournament boundary. The uncertain conditions leading up to the tournament had many participants anxious, wondering where and how to catch their limit of Cats. The record rain, however, also delivered record stringers of Catfish. The 2007 version of the Cat Classic again filled the 60 team limit, although, this year the tournament filled over two weeks in advance and the competitors were chomping at the bit to get on the water.
Tournament Director, Brenner Flaten, released the teams at 6:00 and participants were to return to the weigh-in station by midnight. As teams started to filter in, the smoke cleared, and by the end of the night it was apparent that this was not an ordinary year for the Classic. Emerging from the crowed field were tournament veterans Jerry and Nate Molstad. Jerry and Nate strolled on stage; placed their fish on the scale and an amazing 34.9 lbs. was the result. The crowd erupted and the Championship team celebrated….what a stringer of fish! The Molstads smashed the previous tournament record, bringing in a basket of fish nearing a 7lb avg., which included the second biggest fish of the tournament weighing 9.7 lbs. The father/son combination have been knocking on the Championship door for years, finishing in the Top 3 four times. They broke down that door in 2007 with a record catch. Congratulations Jerry and Nate.
The top team wasn’t the only hot thing going as records fell left and right. Six teams weighed in baskets over 20 lbs. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th largest weights in tourney history all went down by nights end. The “Jumbo Whiskers” honor was awarded to the 4th place team of Colin Kemmis & Joe Horn, who landed a 10.0 lb Milk River piggy. If there was an award given for the “most fish caught” that would probably have gone to team of Shannon Albert and Rodney Hudyma. “We probably caught over thirty fish tonight and lost over 6 in snags” exclaimed Albert. When asked how they braved the high waters of the Milk they stated it wasn’t rocket science, “we casted our lines into the middle of the river and let the current take it down and let the Cats take them out.” The third place team had to rely on instincts, as they were unable to fish for quite a while before the tournament. “I haven’t pre-fished for over two weeks due to the high water”, stated Hudyma. Those instincts paid off with a great catch that landed them in third place.
The tournament wasn’t the only excitement offered by the Cat Classic in ‘07. The weekend festivities kicked off on Friday night with the Calcutta at the Montana Bar. Auctioneer, Brian Austin, rocked the crowd and the bidding turned out to be outstanding. The total purse totaled over $4,880, an incredible amount for the first year. Saturday morning also featured the first annual Montana Catfish Association “Catfish Seminar”. Topics covered at the seminar included Catfish specific rods, reels, hooks, line, rigs, bait and live wells. The individuals that contributed at the event included: Brady Flaten, Jason Flaten, Brenner Flaten & Chris Hanson. Chris shared his vast Catfish knowledge gathered on the banks of the Minnesota and Red River.
Tournament Director Brenner Flaten also had this to add “My sponsors were once again there for me. A special thanks to Tim Jennings and The Nemont Beverage Corporation for being my top-flight sponsor the past few years. Also big thanks to the following people and local businesses: Farm Equipment Sales, Montana Bar, Uncle Milts, Newton Motors, Gordons Foods, D&G Sports and Western, Earls Body Shop, Bell Mortuary, Cornwell Ranch, Elks Club, Glasgow Swim Team, City of Glasgow, Markles Hardware, Glasgow Flower Shop, and Good Evening Glasgow. I couldn’t put on this event with all of these people helping out.” “Once again I had a 10-man crew working the tourney and they did an excellent job in helping everything run so smoothly, Cat Security Rocks.” He also added a few words of encouragement. “Those who didn’t fair that well this weekend, look at the bright side of it, this high water is doing nothing but good for our fishery. Nobody holds the Milk River closer to their heart than me and I realize that this high water is boosting the population of catfish in the river and this year-class of cats will be amazing. That should make for many more exciting years for the Catfish Classic.”
Pictures for this tournament can be found here.
| Colin Kemmis | 10.0 lbs. | Jumbo Whiskers Award |
| Nate Molstad | 9.7 lbs. | Big Whiskers Award |
| 1. | Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. – Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT. | 34.9 lbs. |
| 2. | Brady Flaten, Wolf Point, MT. – Jason Molstad, Glasgow, MT. | 27.3 lbs. |
| 3. | Shannon Albert, Hardin, MT. – Rodney Hudyma, Glasgow, MT. | 25.6 lbs. |
| 4. | Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. – Joe Horn Glasgow, MT. | 25.1 lbs. |
| 5. | Byron Kemp, Glasgow, MT. – John Britzman, Glasgow, MT. | 20.9 lbs. |
| 6. | Tyler George, St. Ignatius, MT. – Chris George, Glasgow, MT. | 20.6 lbs. |
| 7. | Adam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Arron Fjeld, Glasgow, MT. | 18.6 lbs. |
| 8. | Jason Flaten, Billings. MT. – Chris Hanson, Plymouth, MN. | 18.1 lbs. |
| 9. | Curtis Shipman, Glasgow, MT. – Bob Harrington, Glasgow, MT. | 16.9 lbs. |
| 10 | Larry Hockhalter, Glasgow, MT. – Mark Johnston, Glasgow, MT. | 16.8 lbs. |
| 11. | Cody Dix, Glasgow, MT. – Ross Kastet, Glasgow, MT. | 15.8 lbs. |
| 12. | Seth Combs, Glasgow, MT. – Dan Brandt, Glasgow, MT. | 13.6 lbs. |
| 13. | Seth Morehouse, Opheim, MT. – Jory Scott, Glasgow, MT. | 11.7 lbs. |
| 14. | Todd Young, Glasgow, MT. – Matt Tribby, Glasgow, MT. | 10.9 lbs. |
| 15. | Dave Fuller, Ft.Peck, MT. – Ryan Lott, Ft. Peck, MT. | 10.3 lbs. |
| 16. | Darla Anderson, Dagmar, MT. – Clarence Hames, Glasgow, MT. | 9.4 lbs. |
| 17. | Jake Aune, Glasgow, MT. – Shawn Wersal, Glasgow, MT. | 8.8 lbs. |
| 18. | Tracy Krause, Glasgow, MT. – Jim McIntyre, Glasgow, MT. | 8.4 lbs. |
| Erik Feit Glasgow, MT. – Nick Dulaney, Glasgow, MT. | 8.4 lbs. | |
| 20. | DJ Elletson, Glasgow, MT. – Brendan Waarvik, Glasgow, MT. | 8.2 lbs. |
| 21. | Ed Sugg, Glasgow, MT. – Dawn Sugg, Glasgow, MT. | 7.7 lbs. |
| 22. | Levi Sugg, Glasgow, MT. – Cathryn Sugg, Glasgow, MT. | 7.2 lbs. |
| 23. | Ty Albert, Hardin, MT. – Barry Albert, Ft. Peck, MT. | 6.9 lbs. |
| 24. | Ryan Smith, Bozeman, MT. – Tyler Fox, Billings, MT. | 6.2 lbs. |
| 25. | Aaron Chatten, Nashua, MT. – Ken Johnson, Nashua, MT. | 5.4 lbs. |
| 26. | Steve Harris, Sidney, MT. – Chad Nelson, Sidney, MT. | 5.2 lbs. |
| 27. | Jason Tatafu, Malta, MT. – Tyler Viste, Glasgow, MT. | 5.0 lbs. |
| 28. | Bill Cina, Rapid City, SD. – William Durrell, Glasgow, MT. | 4.6 lbs. |
| 29 | Brian Mix, Glasgow, MT. – Tasha Mix, Glasgow, MT. | 4.2 lbs. |
| 30. | Lars Sorensen, Glasgow, MT. – Chad Dawson, Glasgow, MT. | 4.0 lbs. |
| 31. | Elias Nix, Glasgow, MT. – Bob Fabert, Glasgow, MT. | 3.4 lbs. |
| 32. | Bill Bell, Glasgow, MT. – Ron Gilbertson, Glasgow, MT. | 3.3 lbs. |
| 33. | Don Resseguie, Great Falls, MT. – Kevin Durrell, Glasgow, MT. | 2.4 lbs. |
| 34. | Norm Braaten, Ft. Peck, MT. – Dustin Braaten, Ft. Peck, MT. | 2.2 lbs. |
| 35. | Mark Kloker, Nashua, MT. – Joel Smith, Glasgow, MT. | 2.1 lbs. |
| 36. | Casey Riggin, Glasgow, MT. – Luke Knaff, Glasgow, MT. | 1.5 lbs. |
| 37. | Sam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Leo Pattison, Glasgow, MT. | 1.0 lb. |
| 38. | Paul Siefert, Glasgow, MT. – Jodie Siefert, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. |
| Amanda Rossol, Scobey, MT. – Adam Loftsgaard, Peerless, MT | 0 lb. | |
| Leif Sorensen, Mitchell, SD. – Josh Dix, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Matt Smith, Hardin, MT. – Nik Anderson, Missoula, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Tyler Tarum, Richland, MT. – Wayne Linder, Flaxville, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Bill Dirkes, Philipsburg, MT. – Nickolas Dirkes, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Steve Norcutt, Glasgow, MT. – Tara Geer, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Rafe Espinoza, Arlee, MT. – Gabe Goeres, Arlee, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| James Rossol, Plentywood, MT. – Ricky Anderson, Dagmar, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Marjie Capdeville, Hinsdale, MT. – Dallas Capdeville, Hinsdale, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Duane Meidinger, Glasgow, MT. – Andy Meidinger, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Lico Sifuentes, Sidney, MT. – Kyle Pennington, Hardin, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Kenny Bryan, Glasgow, MT. – Joe Shipp, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Trevor Grueb, Faith, SD. – Sam Honeyman, Billings, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Tim Potter Jr., Glasgow, MT. – Saralyn Potter, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Chuck Barstad, Glasgow, MT. – Kylan Barstad, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Mitch McIntyre, Glasgow, MT. – Steve Chappel, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Randy Elletson, Glasgow, MT. – Brianne Saxbury, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Delmer Meidinger, Forsyth, MT. – Abby Meidinger, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Luke Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. – Nathan Hopstad, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Jessica Svingen, Glasgow, MT. – Erin Saxbury, Glasgow, MT. | 0 lb. | |
| Ryley McPeters, Upton, WY. – Keri Stanley, Dickinson, ND. | 0 lb. | |
| 60. | Zak Peterson, Dickinson, ND. – Bruce Peterson, Fort Peck, MT | 0 lb. |
Posted in: Milk River Catfish Classic
