Montana Cats Home Page

9th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic

Don Resseguie & Kevin Durell 2009 Cat Classic Champions

By Brady Flaten

Glasgow, MT 6/7/08- Who would take home the 9th Annual Catfish Classic championship…..rookies, tourney vets or past champions? Relatively stable weather and good river flows were sure to provide plenty of drama and huge Channel Cats for the traditional downtown midnight weigh-ins. One of the unique challenges this tournament poses, is the astounding amount of river miles within the tournament boundaries. The scenic Vandalia Dam separates two sections of the boundary and these two sections offer drastically different Catfish habitat. The teams that were able to guess their locations correctly would certainly be rewarded.

After the dust settled, local anglers Don Resseguie and Kevin Durrell proved to have the answer, weighing in an impressive 25.2 lb stringer of fish. Using a combination of different baits and tactics; this duo caught an extraordinary amount of Cats and were able to upgrade their championship stringer throughout the night. Tourney vets Jason Flaten and Tyler George finished a mere .3 lbs behind the champs, however, it didn’t come easy. A good mixture of tourney vets and rookies littered the top 10. Check out the link below for comments and interviews from tournament participants.

It was another successful Cat Classic weekend in Glasgow. The Calcutta, Catfish Seminar and tourney weigh-ins were highly attended and exhibited continued growth. The sky is the limit for this tourney and community. Please follow the links below for comments and interviews with tournament participants. Join us on June 6th 2009, for the 10th Annual Catfish Classic.

Top 10

1. Don Resseguie, Great Falls, MT. – Kevin Durell, Glasgow, MT. 25.2 lbs.
2. Jason Flaten, Wright, WY. – Tyler George, Phelan, CA 24.9 lbs.
3. Ross Kastet, Glasgow, MT. – Cody Dix, Glasgow, MT. 24.7 lbs.
4. Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. – CJ Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. 24.2 lbs.
5. Ed Sugg, Glasgow, MT. – Storm Jackson, Glasgow, MT. 23.7 lbs.
6. Landon Holte, Fort Peck, MT. – Tyler Daddix, Fort Peck, MT. 22.2 lbs.
7. Norm Braaten, Fort Peck, MT. – Dustin Braaten, Fort Peck, MT. 21.3 lbs.
8. Louie Monson, Glasgow, MT. – Randy Cumber, Glasgow, MT. 19.9 lbs.
9. Seth Combs, Glasgow, MT. – Dan Brandt, Glasgow, MT. 19.4 lbs.
10. Jory Casterline, Billings, MT. – Cole Plouffe, Glasgow, MT. 18.1 lbs.

2008 Cat Classic Final Standings

Milk River Cat Classic Interviews

Local anglers win 2nd Annual Yellowstone Challenge

Tournament Champs Ryan Smith & Kevin Van Donsel

Huntley, MT 5/24/08– The annual Yellowstone Challenge is in the books and there were many impressive stringers recorded on this beautiful 65-degree day. A record 51 teams set out on the section of Yellowstone River stretching from the mouth of the Bighorn River to the East bridge in Billings. Bank and shore anglers were allowed to compete; as most teams experienced mixed results throughout the day, encountering a somewhat sporadic bite. Billings anglers, Ryan Smith and Kevin Van Donsel, took home the championship with an impressive four fish limit of 30.4 lbs., earning themselves a check for $700. They would also take home the Big Fish Prize, a large backyard grill valued at $300, for their Channel Cat weighing in at 10.4 lbs.

Twelve teams were able to weigh in a stringer at over 20 lbs. and nineteen teams weighed in at over 10 lbs., much higher totals than the inaugural event the previous year. Last years tournament was conducted in higher water conditions, while as this year offered more stability. Still with all of the quality weights coming in almost half of the field came in empty handed, as 24 teams turned in a goose egg. No section of river seemed to be better than the next, as the top teams were spread evenly throughout the entire tournament boundary.

Fish and Game was once again helpful this year, as every catfish weighed in was tagged and released back into the mighty Yellowstone River the night of the tournament. Montana Cats is happy to confirm a 0% mortality rate, which is one of our top priorities while hosting a tournament. A huge thanks also goes out to the anglers fishing this year’s tournament, as they continue to make a conscious effort to keep their fish in good shape throughout the entire event. That is the stuff we need to have happen to keep this event running at a high level. Thank You!

Tournament director Jason Flaten was satisfied with the outcome of this year’s event and is looking for improvements and continued growth into the future. With 51 teams battling it out this year, you can expect the field to fill to its maximum of 60 teams for the first time on Saturday May 9th, 2009. Please enjoy complete tournament results and pictures of the event by clicking on the links below. See you all next May!

Top 10 (51 Teams)

1. Ryan Smith, Billings, MT. – Kevin Van Donsel, Billings, MT. 30.4 lbs. $700
2. Siler Giles, Billings, MT. – Rick Davis, Billings, MT. 28.6 lbs. $400
3. Matt Theis, Billings, MT – Richard Theis, Billings, MT. 26.5 lbs. $325
4. Robert Wise, Billings, MT. – Bobby Wise, Billings, MT. 26.1 lbs. $250
5. Art Adame Jr., Valentine, MT. – Larry Green, Billings, MT. 23.7 lbs. $200
6. Keith Ratcliff, Billings, MT. – Steve Reidy, Billings, MT. 22.7 lbs. $125
7. Phil Hageman, Billings, MT. – Bill Jones, Billings, MT. 22.1 lbs. $100
8. Steve Frey, Worden, MT. – Matt Sand, Billings, MT. 21.4 lbs. $75
9. Spencer Cantrell, Billings, MT. – Stephanie Cantrell, Billings, MT 20.5 lbs.
10. Paul Waller, Billings, MT. – Perry Jones, Billings, MT. 20.5 lbs.

2nd Annual Yellowstone Challenge-- Final Results

2008 Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

Tournament Catfishing.....in the snow?

North Platte River, Lewellen, NE

Lewellen, NE 5/3/08 – Montana Cats field staff members, Brenner and Jason Flaten, recently competed in the 11th Annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic held in Western Nebraska. The tournament is quickly turning into a huge event and it is growing on a yearly basis. The event includes a Calcutta and social on Friday night, as well as the tournament on Saturday.

This years tournament, however, provided a challenge to the anglers unlike any other year, with temperatures dipping into the 30’s in the two days leading up to the tourney. A massive snow storm fell in the Lewellen area on Friday, leaving nearly 6-8 inches on the ground, and dropping water temperatures in the river to the mid 30’s. This didn’t seem to scare away the avid catfish anglers though, as a record 55 teams entered in the 10-hour one-day cattin’ tourney. As you would expect, the catfish were a bit tight-lipped throughout the entire tournament, as only 12 of the 55 teams were able to land fish. No team was able to catch their limit of ten catfish, and the 1st place squad was only able to boat seven cats. The Championship team, Tater and Buck Johnson, were able to find the right combination and topped the leader board with 20.46 lbs. Tater and Buck fished Lake McConaughy, as did the other eleven teams that were able to land fish. No team fishing the North Platte River even caught a catfish.

Brenner had this to say on the tournament, “We knew we were in trouble when we showed up to our main spot in the morning and we couldn’t fish effectively because there was too much ICE floating down the river, that’s not a situation we typically prepare for.” “We were spending a lot of time just trying to keep our baits positioned, because the ice was just catching our lines. The water temp was 34 degrees, which doesn’t exactly trigger feeding. We threw everything at them and we just couldn’t get them to bite.”

The guys at the Oregon Trail Trading Post in Lewellen, NE do a tremendous job with this event and you can expect even more growth into the future. Montana Cats has already penciled in the tournament for 2009. Congratulations to all of the top ten and good luck for the rest of your catfishing season!

Top 10 Overall – (55 Teams Total)

1. Tater Johnson / Buck Johnson 20.46 lbs.
2. Johnny Ramsey / Scott Ramsey 19.50 lbs.
3. Justin Johnson / Matt MacIntosh 17.12 lbs.
4. Mallard / Kessler 16.30 lbs.
5. Loyd Volgamore / Doug Volgamore 16.20 lbs.
6. Roy Parmely / Wayne Hanson 13.04 lbs.
7. Mark Hemmes / Darrell Fisher II 11.48 lbs.
8. Greg Shaver / Hobert Shaver 8.64 lbs.
9. Bob Hattendorf / Doug Leopold 6.90 lbs. * Big Fish Winners
10.Marnie Ryan / Daryl Bertolini 6.70 lbs.

Montana Cats, Crazy in Nebraska

Jason Flaten & Brenner Flaten display their championship Channel Cats

By Brady Flaten

Imperial, NE 4/5/08 – The Montana Cats field staff put together a team this past weekend for a tournament in South-Western Nebraska. The 1^st Annual Izaak Walton League Catfish Tournament on Enders Reservoir, located near Imperial, was a great success and the team of Brenner and Jason Flaten, both of Wright Wyoming, came away with the top prize.

Fourteen teams would set out on beautiful 1,700 acre Enders Reservoir at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The team of Flaten/Flaten used a variety of baits throughout tournament hours, while fishing numerous spots, helping them land nine catfish on the day. The action, by no means, was non-stop, as the team was boating about one fish every hour, however, their 5 fish-limit weight of 22 lbs. 15 oz. outdistanced the competition by just under 4 lbs. When asked about their keys to a successful day on the water, Brenner Flaten said, “The River Pro was essential for us at this tournament, some of the water we wanted to fish was real shallow, and without the aid of a jet boat it would not have been possible to get back there. I also think having a variety of fresh baits always helps in tournaments.” The duo had their limit at noon, and spent the last three hours trying to improve their stringer. Six teams would catch their limit of five catfish on this beautiful sunny 65 degree day. The second place team boated a five fish limit of 19 pounds.

The tournament paid out the top three teams in the tournament, the calcutta, as well as the big fish pot. The Flaten's came away with just over $1,000 for their efforts, as they also took home the big fish pot and calcutta. The Izaak Walton league will now use the money derived from this inaugural event to put on two kids fishing days during the summer. These kids fishing days have been very successful on Enders in the past, and the money will help provide free tackle, apparel, and bait to all youth involved. It’s nice to see the proceeds from this event going to such a great cause! The event is sure to experience growth into the future and the field staff members will most likely return for many years to come.

Top 5

1. Brenner Flaten / Jason Flaten 22 lb. 15 oz.
2. Butch Raue / Mark Spady 19 lb.
3. Rammage Jr. / Louie 17 lb. 12 oz.
4. Rammage Sr. / Dick Miller 13 lb. 7 oz.
5. Joe Birge / Mary Birge 10 lb. 3 oz.

Montana Cats 2008 Outlook

Joe Horn & Collin Kemmis- "Jumbo Whiskers" award winners at the 2007 Milk River Cat Classic

By: Brenner Flaten

3/21/08- Yes.....it's that time once again. Break out your tackle and round up some of your favorite bait, its catfishing time! As the month of March comes to a close, the ice is beginning to break loose on Montana’s lakes and rivers. When April arrives, the bite will be heating up and it will be time to go out and look for some monster cats. With that in mind we would like to update you on the direction of the website, association and tournament schedule for the 2008 season.

2007 was a great year that included positive progress for the Montana Catfish Association. The website continued to grow at a rapid pace and the message board activity reached an all-time high. The Montana Cats field staff also expanded to five members in 2007, with the inclusion of Nate Molstad and Steve Harris. Steve and Nate bring a wealth of experience and a love for the sport of catfishing to the current staff.

We are open to suggestions on improving the association now and in the future. Look for memberships to become available by 2009. We are also seeking ways to improve and expand our website. We hope to include Podcast interviews and Youtube video on the site this year. Video footage of fishing trips, tournament weigh-ins as well as podcast interviews of tournament participants will be a way to increase web traffic and improve viewers online experience. We also hope to update the tackle section to include reviews on: catfish reels, hooks and boats. The Cat Waters section will be updated to include the: Powder River, Tongue River/Reservoir, and Missouri River. We also hope to include a new apparel section that will include: caps, t-shirts, decals, etc.

Catfish tournaments are a big part of our passion and we could not be happier with how the 2007 tournament season transpired. The inaugural year of the Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament held in Huntley was a smashing success. 42 teams entered the event and it promises continued growth into the future. The Milk River Catfish Classic provided new records and extreme drama in 2007. It has become one of the premier social events in North-East Montana over the course of the past decade. The community of Glasgow has embraced the idea of a competitive catfishing tournament and has run with it. If you haven’t made it up for the annual showdown, mark your calendars for the first weekend of June 2008. Come see what all the excitement is about! The Savage Catfish tournament filled to its 50-team capacity for the first time in its four years of existence. Jim Miller and company do an excellent job and put on one heck of a feast too! It should be another exciting year for Montana catfish tournaments in 2008.

The Milk River Cat Classic will be extended by a ½ hour this year and the Yellowstone Challenge by an hour. This will allow the anglers more time on the water and a better chance at a more impressive stringer. Both the Challenge and Savage tournaments will expand to a 60-team field , making all three Montana Catfish tournaments a 60-team limit. Entry Forms can be obtained by clicking on the links below.

2008 Montana Catfish Tournament Schedule

Date Tournament Body of Water Location

5/10/08 Yellowstone Challenge Yellowstone River Huntley, MT

6/07/08 Milk River Cat Classic Milk River Glasgow, MT (SOLD OUT)

6/14/08 Savage Fire Dept. Yellowstone River Savage, MT Contact (406) 776-2334

20th Annual Cats Incredible

Jason Molstad- 19 lb Channel Cat

By: Brenner Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 9/12/07- Two teams from Montana recently competed in the prestigious Cats Incredible tournament held on the Red River along the border of Minnesota/North Dakota. The teams of Brady Flaten/Jason Molstad and Jerry Molstad/Nate Molstad, looking to prepare themselves for the tough competition and conditions, traveled over on Tuesday evening with a mission in mind. They spent three full days pre-fishing and mapping out a plan. Pre-tournament fishing yielded mixed results for the two squads. Brady and Jason felt they had the fish on a pattern. Their Wednesday through Friday total resulted in 6 fish over 10 lbs., 2 over 19, and 1 over 21. Nate and Jerry ,however, were experiencing some difficulties on the water and fishing was unbearably slow.

The tides soon turned as the first day of the tournament approached. 150 boats were just about to invade a 35 mile stretch of river. The anticipation was high for all the tournament anglers involved. The opportunity to take home the first place prize of $4,000 was at stake. It was time to "get it on"!

Day one was a bag of mixed results. Fishing was down from the start (as compared to previous years) and the weights were not overwhelming. Nate and Jerry’s first day, however, total was just that....impressive! Their 36 lb. limit of 5 cats was good enough for a 4^th place day one standing (150 teams). Brady and Jason were drained after a grueling day on the water; which yielded only three slot fish for a total weight of 11 lbs. They stood in the middle of the pack after day 1.

Day two would prove pivotal in determining which team would be walking away with the grand prize, as well as those that were determined to move up the leader board. Jerry and Nate knew they would have to put together another impressive day to stay in the big money and Brady and Jason knew it would take a Herculean effort to sneak into the top 35. When it was all said and done, the two Montana teams were not able to put together the second day result they were desperately hoping for. For the second straight day, Brady and Jason would boat their three slot fish early, only to miss out on the cats that could make the difference. Jerry and Nate boated two slots during the second day pushing their total to 39.52 lbs. good enough for 41^st place, finishing just outside the money.

Final Results: 2007 Cats Incredible Results

Pod Cast Interviews

Nate and Jerry Molstad after--Day 1

Fishing Minnesota's Chris Hanson at boat launch--Day 2

Fishing Minnesota's Chris Hanson at weigh station--Day 2

Red River fishing guide Rusty Miller at weigh station--Day 2

Former Minnesota River guide Dennis Steele at weigh station--Day 2

High, Muddy Water Highlights Savage Tourney

2nd Place team Bill Jones, Phil Hageman, Kent O'Donnel.

By Brenner Flaten

Savage 6/9/07- The 4th Annual Savage Volunteer Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament took center stage in Eastern-Montana on June 9th, 2007. Like many of the other catfish tourneys in the region, the event again had an all-time high in teams and filled the capacity 50-team field a week in advance. What teams didn’t expect, was the massive rain-fall leading up to the event and the sudden change in the water conditions. This created an all new challenge for all 150 participants in the event. The weekend kicked off with the popular Friday night Calcutta held at the fire hall in downtown Savage. The Calcutta provided a great atmosphere that allowed teams to gather around and tell fishing stories and talk tactics, all the while enjoying a fresh burger or hotdog right off the grill! This years Calcutta pot did not disappoint and continues to grow ever year, it managed to grow to just over $10,000 this year.

It was a beautiful sunny day for this years tourney, providing the first day of sun for the area in nearly five days. The team captained by Chuck Reynolds was able to find the winning combination and win the tournament title! The team stuck with one spot throughout the day and was able to milk 7.175 lbs., a truly impressive stringer of 12-18 inch catfish. The team of Bill Jones, Phil Hageman, and Kent O’Donnell used a different approach to claim their second straight runner-up finish in the event. Putting a run-and-gun approach into play, the three-man team hit multiple spots throughout the day. Bill Jones added. "We would pull up on a spot, and pull one or two fish out, than the action would slow, and it would be time to move on." The approach seems to be working well, because back to back top 2 finishes is very impressive. The Big Fish Award winner was Chad Maher, who landed a 7.425 lb. hawg, good enough for a $200 check. Overall, the number of teams bringing in their limit was down, however, the tournament was still very much a success.

Jim Miller and the Volunteer Savage Fire Dept. continue to put on a tremendous event that continues to grow on a yearly basis. The Montana Catfish Association truly appreciates people like Jim that help provide more opportunities for the catfish angler in the state of Montana. Jim had this to say, "Next year we are looking at some potential growth, I would like to see the boundaries be lengthened and the number of teams increased." Take a look at the final results from the weekend as well as pictures from the entire event.

Top 10 Teams (50 teams)

1. Chuck Reynolds 7.175
2. Bill Jones 5.785
3. Jason Partridge 5.425
4. Clint Prevost 4.830
5. Troy Conradsen 4.470
6. Mike Metzenberg 4.390
7. Pam Klempel 4.315
8. Mario Thorson 4.280
9. Brandy Lien 4.25
10. Lance Miller 3.54

2007 Savage Fire Dept Final Standings

2007 Savage Tourney Pictures

Record Rain has HUGE effect on 8th Annual Cat Classic

Nate Molstad & Jerry Molstad 2007 Cat Classic Champions

By Brady Flaten

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 4^th 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.”

8th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic - (Final Results)

Top 10 (60 teams)

1. Nate Molstad, Havre, MT. - Jerry Molstad, Glasgow, MT. 34.9 lbs $850

2. Brady Flaten, Wolf Point, MT. - Jason Molstad, Glasgow, MT. 27.3 lbs $500

3. Shannon Albert, Hardin, MT. - Rodney Hudyma, Glasgow, MT. 25.6 lbs $350

4. Colin Kemmis, Glasgow, MT. - Joe Horn Glasgow, MT. 25.1 lbs $300

5. Byron Kemp, Glasgow, MT. - John Britzman, Glasgow, MT. 20.9 lbs $250

6. Tyler George, St. Ignatius, MT. - Chris George, Glasgow, MT. 20.6 lbs $200

7. Adam Morehouse, Glasgow, MT. - Arron Fjeld, Glasgow, MT. 18.6 lbs $150

8. Jason Flaten, Billings. MT. - Chris Hanson, Plymouth, MN. 18.1 lbs $100

9. Curtis Shipman, Glasgow, MT. - Bob Harrington, Glasgow, MT. 16.9 lbs

10. Larry Hockhalter, Glasgow, MT. - Mark Johnston, Glasgow, MT. 16.8 lbs

2007 Cat Classic Final Standings

Inaugural Yellowstone Challenge a Success

Yellowstone Challenge Champions Richard & Matthew Theis

By Brady Flaten

Huntley 5/19/07- The Yellowstone Challenge marked the first ever Catfish tournament in the Billings region. Local anglers who participated in the inaugural tournament were eager to get out on the water to catch some huge cats and capture bragging rights. 42 teams in all (mostly local) braved the high water conditions for an afternoon of good fun and competition. The field was essentially split, with half the field fishing from shore and the other half from boat. Tournament Director Jason Flaten released the teams at noon and they were to arrive back at the weigh in station by 7:00 P.M. It turned out to be a difficult day of fishing with a lot of teams struggling to catch fish or not able to hook the light biting fish. Some criteria that may have contributed to the tough bite were the high, spring water conditions which limit the opportunities for the bank anglers. The water level was also dropping drastically, which can also turn off or taper fish activity. Richard and Matthew Theis capitalized on the tough conditions while fishing in their Gregor jet boat. The father/son duo found the right combination and locations to take home the championship with a nice four fish limit of 25.2 lbs. "There's no secret to what we did," exclaimed Richard " we used cut bait we got right here from the Minnow Bucket this morning." They focused on classic high water areas and it paid off. It's no surprise this team took home the championship, they are no stranger to the river or catfish. "We've been fishing this stretch of the river since 86'," said Richard. "We enjoy fishing for cats because they are easy and fun to catch......it's also a great fish to get kids interested in fishing." They also noted the need to be pro-active in conservation and regulation, "we used to be the only ones out on the river. Now you see a lot of boats and shore anglers targeting catfish." These two men are great representatives for the sport of fishing and specifically Channel Catfish. Congratulations Richard and Matthew on taking home the championship. Another impressive accomplishment came from the 2nd place team of Scott Swanson and Dan Oblander landing a 11.2 lb Yellowstone pig. That fish was good enough to land the "Big Fish" award and claimed the Skeeter pontoon as a prize. Montana Cats would like to thank the numerous volunteers, all the participants and the many sponsors that provided cash and prizes for the tournament. A special thanks also goes out to the Minnow Bucket Bait Shop in Huntley and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Nate McClenning, for ensuring the safety of all the tournament fish. The 1st annual Yellowstone Challenge was a huge success......surely a start to a great tradition.

Yellowstone Challenge Pictures

Yellowstone Challenge Results

Top 10 (42 Teams)

1. Richard Theis, Billings MT. - Matthew Theis, Billings MT. 25.2 lbs.

2. Scott Swanson, Billings MT. - Dan Oblander, Billings MT. 24.9 lbs.

3. Larry Green, Billings MT. - Art Adameol, Ballantine MT. 22.6 lbs.

4. Steve Stark, Huntley Mt. - Steve Frey , Worden MT. 22.2 lbs.

5. Walter Estelby, Charlo MT. - Robbie Guptill, Laurel MT. 18.8 lbs.

6. Keith Ratcliff, Billings MT. - Steve Reidy, Billings MT. 18.6 lbs.

7. Charles Furguson, Big Timber MT. - Will Grundhauser, Mcleod MT. 18.1 lbs.

8. Brenner Flaten, Glasgow MT. - Brady Flaten, Wolf Point MT. 17.7 lbs.

9. Mark Striegel, Pompeys Pillar MT. - Tyler Striegel, Ballantine MT. 16.6 lbs.

10. Perry Jones, Billings MT. - Paul Waller, Billings MT. 14.8 lbs.

Field Staff Compete in Nebraska Tourney

Nebraska 5/5/07– Brenner & Jason Flaten recently competed in the 10th annual Lake McConaughy Catfish Classic held in Western Nebraska. The tournament field was made up of 53 teams comprised of mainly Colorado and local Nebraska anglers. This was a boat or shore event and was limited to the ten heaviest catfish. The Montana based team made the trek to Nebraska on Wednesday so they could get in a few days of preparation for the event. The pre-fishing days were spent mapping out a plan and putting the fish on a pattern. The days leading up to the tournament and the day of the tourney, were mainly rain-soaked and overcast.

With a plan intact, we began Saturday morning with a ton of anticipation. However, it did not take long to realize that the fish were in a little different mood that day compared to the pre-fishing we had done. Action was slow throughout the majority of the tournament hours. We were bringing in a catfish about once an hour, and anybody that knows anything about tournament fishing knows that isn’t very good! We knew fishing was slow when we were putting our baits in the very same places we had been a week ago and nothing seemed to be working. Those same places were yielding fish after fish of over six pounds just a week earlier. We put ourselves in a difficult situation and we felt confident that our plan would work, when it backfired, there really wasn’t a whole lot we could do about it. We had set up a pick up point with a local resident a day earlier, and that pickup point was at least five miles down river from where we had started the day. When we arrived at the pickup point there was only one hour remaining in the tournament. We were sitting on a limit of catfish at the time, but not anymore than 30 pounds. We had caught 16 catfish in the nine hour period we had been walking that stretch. We knew it would take a lot more than that just to crack the top ten.

So we got dropped off at the place we started in the morning and plan B jumped into motion. While pre-fishing the previous day, we had located a spot on a different section of the river that was very productive and we felt that we could milk a couple out before the time ran out on us. A few wash-board gravel roads and a 1/4 tank of gas later we had arrived at plan B. With only twenty five minutes left to do our fishing it proved to be a smart move. In the twenty five minutes we landed five cats , four of them would be included in our 10 fish limit at the end of the day. Three of the fish were well over five pounds and we managed to catch them all within 15 minutes of each other. Arriving at the weigh-in station, without a minute to spare, we were feeling a little bit of relief. We knew we didn’t reach our goal , but glad we stayed after it when things were not going as planned. Our ten fish limit ended up being a respectable 48.14 lbs., good enough for 8^th place overall.

Top 10 Overall - (53 Teams Total)

1. Andy Hain / Robbie Hain 74.9 lbs.

2. Henry Barker / Brandon Barker 63.1 lbs.

3. Rob Sack / Bob Sack 61.06 lbs.

4. Bob Hattendorf / Doug Leopold 56.78 lbs.

5. Johny Ramsey / Scott Ramsey 54.24 lbs.

6. Mark Hemmes / Darrell Fisher 51.52 lbs.

7. Jeremy Canning / Nathan Robertson 49.32 lbs.

8. Jason Flaten / Brenner Flaten 48.14 lbs.

9. Charles McDowell / David Collins 48.02 lbs.

10. Sean Sanders / Kevin McCarthy 45.86 lbs.

19th Annual Cats Incredible

Nate Molstad- 2006 Cats Incredible. Photo by Chris Hanson

By Brady Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 9/10/06- Anticipation surrounded the 2006 Cats Incredible tournament as Montana Cats made a return trip to the annual event held on the mighty Red River of the North. Nate Molstad and Brady Flaten competed on behalf of Montana Cats for the 06' version of the tournament. The competition was stiff, as many of the 150 teams were comprised of the top Catfish anglers in the region. The weather was tricky. It's been a very dry summer, which in recent weeks, led to a very tough bite due to the low water conditions. Two days prior to the tournament, however, monsoon like rains pumped new life into the Red River Valley. Stable weather was not in the cards, which at times can lead to a very intriguing bite. Jason & Brady Flaten finished in 33rd place the previous year, so this year was sure to be an improvement.....right? Not so fast my friend. Pre-fishing was mainly used to scout new areas and get a "feel" for the river. We entered the tournament with a plan and we were sticking to it. After day 1, however, we struggled to meet the 5 fish limit; ending up with 3 fish, missing out on two slot fish. We made a few decisions early that ended up costing our daily pound total as well. State law requires each team to decide on the spot whether or not to keep the fish due to the "culling" regulation. We were unable to find the pattern to land the big ones on day two; boating 5 fish but staying put at 70th place; 8 fish total for 50.3 pounds for the weekend. Despite the disappointing finish, It was another fun weekend on the Red and 2007 is sure to be interesting. Two Montana teams have registered for the 2007 tournament: 1.) Brady Flaten/Jason Molstad 2.) Nate Molstad/Jerry Molstad. Now it's just a waiting game.

Discuss 2006 Cats Incredible Discuss 2007 Cats Incredible

Montana Cats Fish Red River Catfish League Tourney

Brady Flaten & Steve Harris

By Brady Flaten

East Grand Forks, MN 7/22/06- The Red River of the North is widely considered the premier Channel Catfish water in the world. The Red didn’t disappoint as the Montana Cats Pro Staff, along with Montana Cats member Steve Harris, made the seven hour trek across North Dakota to compete in the annual Red River Valley Catfish Club Tournament. Brady Flaten and Steve Harris made up the first team and the brother combination of Jason and Brenner Flaten comprised the second. Conditions weren’t ideal with low waters, extreme temperatures and the fish in post-spawn mode which provided numerous challenges for the Montana anglers. Pre-fishing proved puzzling as the fish weren’t necessarily congregated in one specific area. Both teams, however, enjoyed great success pre-fishing on Friday, boating numerous fish over the 10 pound mark. Confidence was high and anticipation great. Strategy would prove to be a huge aspect in this and every Red River tournament. Three fish would be weighed with one of those fish having to be under the 24” mark. Due to state regulations there would also be no sorting or culling fish in the live well. This would force anglers to make the tough decision on whether not to keep or release the fish after landing it. 35 teams took off from the South landing at 7:00 A.M. and had to return by 3:00 P.M. The team of Brady Flaten and Steve Harris, however, didn’t need the full allotted time weighing their three fish in at 10:30. The strategy of not putting anything in the live well less than 15 pounds before noon turned out to be successful. Brady and Steve turned back 3 other fish over 10 pounds before finally boating their final fish of 16.8 lbs. Three fish consisting of 16.8, 15.8 & 3.6 totaled 36.2 lbs good enough for 4^th place. Brenner and Jason Flaten turned in a fish of 14.2 and 3.2 for a tournament total of 17.2 lbs. Boat trouble and the tough decision of turning a fish of 9 lbs back summed up the day for the brother combo. The Red River Valley Catfish Club put on an outstanding tournament and a good time was enjoyed by all. If you have any questions about this tournament or the Red River in general, please feel free to post on the message board.

Catfish League Tourney Pictures & Catfish League Home Page.

3^rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament

Tournament Champions Brady Flaten, Brenner Flaten and Jason Flaten.

By Brady Flaten

Savage 6/10/06- The Yellowstone River is the longest free flowing river in the lower 48 States and it boasts some of Montana's best Catfishing. It was put to the test this Saturday during the 3rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament. The folks at the Savage have put forth a ton of effort to get this fishing extravaganza organized and running. This years event included a pre-tournament social, Calcutta, fishing tournament, catfish feed and numerous door prizes. The tournament rules allowed teams of 1-3 and the quirky rule of targeting 12 to 18" Cats (5 fish limit). Normally this would not be a difficult task, however, the Yellowstone has an average fish size much larger than that. It was a rainy afternoon with as much as 1 1/2 inches of rain falling on the contestants heads. Most teams weighed fish but staying under the slot limit was difficult for many. 39 teams braved the wind and rain to fish for the mighty Channel Cat. Brady Flaten, Brenner Flaten & Jason Flaten, fishing in a 2006 River Pro, were able to find the right combination. They finished with a 5 fish total weighing 7.74 pounds, which was good enough for the tournament title. This tournament was well run and a good time was had by all. Montana Cats recommends anyone interested in a good time and meeting some friendly people to pencil in the second weekend of June, 2007 for Savage, MT. Sidney Herald Article

Top 6 Placers 3^rd Annual Savage Fire Dept. Catfish Tournament

1. Brenner Flaten, Glasgow- Brady Flaten, Wolf Point- Jason Flaten, Billings/ 7.74 Lbs. ($500)

2. Mike Samson, Billings MT. - Phil Hageman, Billings MT. - Bill Jones, Billings MT./ 5.59 Lbs. ($375)

3. Brett Hepp - Tandi Hepp - Heidi Schmierer/ 5.075 Lbs. ($300)

4. Justin Messer - Bill Hamburg - Jim Messer/ 4.59 Lbs. ($225)

5. Angie Bentz - Kevin Bentz - Dave Mckinne/ 4.58 Lbs. ($170)

6. Tim Dolphey - Marshall Vojacek - Paul Vojacek/ 4.26 Lbs. ($75)

Big Fish Winner: Kevin Bentz 11.71 Lbs. ($200)

7th Annual Milk River Cat Classic a Hit

Mitch McIntyre & Cole Plouffe- 2006 Milk River Cat Classic Champs

By Brady Flaten

Glasgow 6/3/06- The City of Glasgow was buzzing Saturday night; with the 7th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic again raising eyebrows in the community. With each year comes added anticipation and this year was no exception. Just six years ago this tournament started with 12 teams; as this year it ballooned to fill the tournament limit of 60. The 2006 version of the "Cat Classic" was filled with veteran Catfish anglers and budding new fisherman. Anglers from Roundup, Billings, Laurel, Minot & even Wisconsin competed in this years event. The day started as a windy and miserable one but as the tournament was about to kickoff, the wind clamed down and a beautiful night of fishing was ahead. Tournament President Brenner Flaten, sent the teams out in three flights and the contest was underway. Catfish security did an admirable job all night finding and checking nearly all contestants. The famous midnight weigh-ins attracted a crowd over 250 spectators and they were in for some fireworks. Burgers and Dogs were grilled but all eyes were on the scale as the anglers brought in their evenings catch. Brenner predicted "this years weight would be down from last years record breaking performance due to the low water levels this year". That prediction turned out to be spot on but the weights were still very respectable. The youthful connection of Cole Plouffe and Mitch McIntyre ran away with the tournament championship with an impressive stringer of fish. They also captured the Big Fish title with a an impressive 9.3 lb Milk River monster. This duo proved that pre-fishing does payoff as they found numerous top fishing locations and used the "Run-N-Gun" approach to capture the tournament title. The Catfish Classic was again a huge success. Catfish knowledge and appreciation has reached a new level in the town of Glasgow and that can be directly attributed to this tournament. If you wish to read more about the tournament, follow the link at the bottom of this article. Thanks again for everyone who helped out this year and we can only hope that the 8th Annual Catfish Classic can continue this impressive trend. MILK RIVER CATFISH CLASSIC ARTICLES

Top 10 Milk River Catfish Classic

1. Cole Plouffe, Glasgow MT. - Mitch McIntyre, Glasgow MT. 22.7 lbs.

2. Marjie Capdeville, Hinsdale MT. - Dallas Capdeville, Hinsdale MT. 19.1 lbs.

3. Brady Flaten, Wolf Point MT. - Jason Molstad, Glasgow MT. 18.3 lbs.

4. Todd Young, Glasgow MT. - Neil Chouinard, Glasgow MT. 17.9 lbs.

5. Seth Combs, Glasgow MT. - Dan Brandt, Glasgow MT. 15.7 lbs.

6. Drew Henry, Minot ND. - Courtney McFarlin, Williston ND. 15.6 lbs.

7. Vance Anderson, Glasgow MT. - Kevin Durell, Glasgow MT. 15.5 lbs.

8. Sam Morehouse, Glasgow MT. - Ross Kastet, Glasgow MT. 14.9 lbs.

9. Dave Fuller, Fort Peck MT. - Ryan Lott, Fort Peck MT. 14.6 lbs.

10. Jerry Molstad, Glasgow MT. - Nate Molstad, Havre MT. 14.5 lbs.

10. Byron Kemp, Glasgow MT. - John Britzman, Glasgow MT. 14.5 lbs.

Final Results- 7th Annual Milk