The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

New surprises are surfacing along with Fresno Walleye’s favorite games, raffles and drawings, which will again award hundreds of sponsored prizes worth thousands of dollars during the group’s annual Walleye Banquet docking at the Havre Ice Dome on April 22nd.

The smoke-free banquet features all-you-can-eat secret batter walleye, baron of beef and all the baits to ready you for an evening of winning entertainment as guests play games for big screen TV’s, patio and dining room furniture, barbecue grills and home furnishings, guns, fine jewelry, artwork and other treasurers.

“There are always so many donated prizes, from guns to trips, jewelry to home furnishings, that could go home with you. They are going home with somebody!” said Fresno Walleyes Club President Nate Molstad. April 22nd will be the first drawing for the Fresno Chapters Annual 30 Gun Raffle. The first gun will be given away the night of the banquet and then one per day for the next 29 days. Only 500 tickets will be sold. “Don’t get shut out.”

Banquet tickets went on sale in February along with gun raffle tickets that are available through Havre Rental (265-8841), Bing N Bob’s Sports Shop (265-6124) and E-Fish-Hunt Sports/Stromberg’s Sinclair (265-3441) in Havre; at The Walleye Tavern (located on U.S. Hwy 2 at Fresno Reservoir) and in Big Sandy from Ezzies Conoco (378-2101).

Funds raised from the annual banquet support the chapter’s numerous improvement projects throughout the year that include projects at Fresno Reservoir, Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir, improvements at Baileys Reservoir, and a web cam at Fresno Reservoir.

“Our cause is your cause – better fishing and greater recreational opportunities,” Molstad said. “Money raised at our banquet is spent locally to enhance recreation and warm water fishing in northern Montana for residents and visitors alike. Thanks to the past support of so many, we have been able to build and maintain a number of amenities at Fresno Reservoir like the campground, pavilion, boat ramps and picnic tables, which are open to the public free of charge. We are also able to give college scholarships, treat area fifth and sixth graders to our annual Kids Education Day - complete with boat rides, new fishing poles and lunch, and host our annual Kids Fun Fishing Day at Fresno with lunch and prizes. We have been able to provide financial support to the St. Mary’s Working Group, pay for garbage services at Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir and Fresno Reservoir, and host the Fresno Challenge fishing tournament. We are able to maintain and upgrade the best web cam in the State of Montana at Fresno Reservoir (www. fresnowalleyes .com). This winter the Fresno Chapter teamed up with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to distribute Christmas trees around Fresno Reservoir for fish habitat. “We’re hoping to work with the FWP to make this an annual project. Thanks to all the great people of Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy, and surrounding areas for donating trees”, said Molstad.

Along with all the projects noted above, one of the club’s great accomplishments is being able to provide new rods and reels to every child that attended our Kids Education Day and Kids Fun Fishing Day. “Last year we gave away over 340 rods and reels and we expect to do the same this year. We want to thank BNSF, NorthWestern Energy and Wal Mart as they have been major supporters of the Kids Education Day. Getting kids hooked on fishing and the outdoors is our main goal” said Molstad.

With continued support from the general public and business donors, the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has been one of the most successful service clubs in the state.

“We just can’t thank these people enough. Everything we do is made possible by their continued support” Molstad said.

The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited is a 501C3 nonprofit organization, making all donations tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to Fresno Walleyes at P.O. Box 1501, Havre, MT 59501.

The 34th Annual Fresno Walleyes Banquet doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with happy hour and early bird door prize drawings called every 15 minutes. The silent and live auctions, games and drawings, and visiting with the friendliest freshwater fishing enthusiasts around reel guests in from all over the state, year after year. The Havre Ice Dome is located at 2585 5th Ave. SE. For more information call, Nate Molstad at 230-0342 or Craig Buettner at 265-4517.

FRESNO CHAPTER Calendar for 2017

April 22nd, Saturday, Fresno Banquet, Havre Ice Dome

May 12th, Friday, Fresno Kids’ Education Day, Fresno Reservoir & Pavilion

June 9th, Friday, Fresno Kids’ Fun Fishing Day, Fresno Reservoir & Pavilion

June 9th, Friday, Fresno Challenge Rules Meeting and Calcutta @ Fresno Pavilion.

June 10th & 11th, Saturday & Sunday, Fresno Challenge, Tournament Headquarters @ Fresno Pavilion