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February 7, 2000
Fishing for fun on a Sunday afternoonSnowmobiles,Snow carvers, sleds, provideentertainmentBy TONY ZIEBOL Journal Staff Writer SLEEPY EYE -- At the Sleepy Eye Sportsman's Club's 18th Annual Fishing Derby, many of the people gathered on Sleepy Eye Lake were doing anything but fishing. Kyle Krenz of Sleepy Eye and his cousins, Matt and Erich Prokosch of New Ulm were crafting a figure out of snow. "The fishing's not so good, so the kids found something else to do," said Kyle's mom, Joyce Krenz. "It started out to be a lady, but it turned out to be a dog." A few yards away, another figure dressed in boots, sunglasses, a warm jacket, and green hunting cap sat patiently with a pole in hand, staring at a bobber sticking out of small hole in the ice. The person didn't move much, as it wasn't really a person at all. "This is my ex -- Mad Max," joked Jerry Weicherding, who with his buddies from the Sleepy Eye Fire Department, set up the mannequin. "He's having a good time. He's registered to win." The fake "Mad Max" even had a fake fish at the end of his fishing line. "He caught a bass," Weicherding said, pulling up the line to show a large lure, probably larger than most crappies in the lake. The members of the Fire Department had about six ice houses, and Weicherding said the firemen were there just to advocate the event. "We're supporting the sportsmen," he said. All over the lake, people rode snowmobiles and four-wheelers, and kids pulled each other around on sleds. There was also a raffle for the children. With the weather very cooperative and warm, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. And some people were actually sitting with poles in hands, fishing. Travis Raddatz and his stepson, Bob Ehlers, both of Redwood Falls, said they don't normally fish in contests, but they enjoy the sport. "We're just out here fishing," Raddatz said. Sleepy Eye Lake will again be the place for another fishing contest next weekend, this time sponsored by New Ulm. Betty Krenz of Sleepy Eye will return for that event as well. "I hope we have weather like this next week," she said.
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