3rd Annual Fishing Tournament to benefit Wounded Heroes Foundation

On Saturday, January 28, homeowners of the Lakeview Villa Homeowners Association and more Wauconda residents braved the bitter-cold winds across Bang's Lake with hopes of landing the prize-catch of the Third Annual Ice-Fishing Tournament. The day's event was preceeded by a retirement party for Ryan Jacobsen who organized the event, www.lvvaicefishingderby.com. Jacobsen is retiring from the Navy after twenty years of service. Proceeds from the event are being donated to the Wounded Heroes Foundation.

The Bang's Lake Bait Company posted the results of the tournament on their website.  The trophy-catches pulled from the Bang's at this tournament included a 34" Northern Pike, 18" Bass, 12-1/2" Crappie, 9-1/4" Bluegill and an 8" Perch. Wauconda News stepped into the shop after the tournament was over. Owner, Mike Scorn was looking forward to this point in the day when the rush from the tournament had subsided; though customers still visited the shop thereafter. Scorn has been a Wauconda resident for fourteen years. When asked about his business, Scorn reflected, "...It's something we've always wanted to do...We talked about it for twenty years." The strategy for the event involved setting up satellite shops across the lake. Mike's Father was on hand to assist in transport and manning the satellite shop. "We were selling bait by 4 am." 

When asked how the mild winter is affecting Bang's Lake Bait Co., Mike responded, "This is the second week of ice...As long as we have ice, we're good." 

The outdoor awards ceremony that followed the event was a shade less than ceremonial as the cold-winds kept up and perhaps the chili prepared for the cook-off was getting cold. Winners were called up to the trailer full of prizes and were allow thirty-seconds to choose from an assortment of goodies which included a weber grill, a knife-set, coolers, rods and reels, tip-ups and a comforter.

Local Businesses sponsoring the event included, Berger Excavating, Dick's Sporting Goods, Cabela's, Dryco, Lindy's Landing, Bulldog's, Twigg's, Scoreboard, Bang's Lake Bait Co., Triangle Sports, Bliss Wines and Gifts, The Strawberry Moon and Peter Baker & Son's.