May 10, 2025 by Montana Cats
Huntley, MT- The 2025 Montana Cats Tournament Circuit kicked off this past weekend in Huntley with the 19th Annual Yellowstone Challenge. The Yellowstone Challenge boasts one of the most complete and competitive tourney rosters on the circuit year in and year out and this year's version did not disappoint. Over a dozen past circuit champions littered the field with numerous top 3 place winners joining in. The weather proved to be beautiful once again, with temps creeping near 80 and increasing water levels due to rain earlier in the week. The high temps and rising water levels sent a signal to the Channel Cats to throw on the feed bag in record fashion. When the dust settled, 49 teams finished with over 20lbs (4 lb. avg), 33 teams over 25 lbs. and 11 teams over the elusive 30 lb mark. These marks smashed previous records in all weight categories and are a testament to the amazing conditions, health of the fishery and mastery displayed by the tournament anglers.
The Top 10 was littered with veteran squads, proving that experience matters on this stretch of river. Jeremy Johnson Worden, MT / Doug Enderson Billings, MT. stayed hot by finishing inside the Top 10 for the third straight year. The father/son combo of David Benkley Billings, MT / Ezra Benkley Billings, MT were last minute entrants and said “we were able to go where others couldn’t get to” (in reference to their long prop mud motor skiff boat). Their 30.57 lbs. was good enough for 9th place finish. Tyler Wittenberg Shepherd, MT / Aspen Rivers Shepherd, MT. bested their previous top performance with 30.84 lbs. Coming in 8th. Notable tourney veterans Todd and Kellie Lindsay out of Laurel, finished inside the Top 10 at the Challenge for the first time with their 7th place finish. The brother duo of Brenner and Jason Flaten capped another outstanding performance in the Challenge coming in 6th.
The rookie squad of Levi Vandersloot Shepherd, MT / Lindsay Vandersloot Shepherd, MT proved that on any given day, anyone can compete with the big dogs, taking home 5th place plaques in their first Yellowstone Challenge stating “this was the best day we’ve ever had on the water”. Jordan Gill Billings, MT / Josh Seeley Billings, MT repeated their Top 10 performance from last year, with an impressive basket of 33.69 lbs., good enough for 4th place. Tourney Veterans Kevin Zimmerman Billings, MT / Ken Ard Billings, MT. completed their best finish ever with a Top 3 and a 34.12 lb basket. Returning Champions Steve Harris Jr. and Steve Harris Sr. out of Sidney stayed hot, besting their tourney basket last year with 36.67 lbs. (good enough for 3rd highest weight in tourney history) Steve Sr. stated “pre-fishing is why we were able to do what we did”. “We had a lot of boat issues today. We were the last team to get to our spot and luckily no one was there”, added Jr. The day, however, belonged to the Husband/Wife combo of Scott and Bobbie Swanson out of Billings. Scott is one of the most decorated anglers in tourney history, boasting 4 Top 10 finishes and the Inaugural Big Fish winner all the way back in 2007. Their basket tourney RECORD basket of 42.17 lbs. was anchored by the tourney big fish winner 10.45 lb Yellowstone Piggy. “It’s about time”, stated Bobbie, commenting on all the time they’ve put in on the water and competed in this event. Huge congrats goes out to the Swanson’s and ALL competitors on another successful Yellowstone Challenge event.
The Yellowstone Challenge and Montana Cats would like to thank the following sponsors for helping make this tournament possible: Rhoadside Events Center, Briggs Distributing, B’n’M Poles, Enduro Products, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, RS Jet Boat Anchors, Shelly George w/ Thrivent Financial and Midway Auto & RV.
The Montana Catfish Association is a NON-PROFIT organization that runs this tournament and others around the state to help promote Channel Catfish in Montana and local communities. All of our tournaments are OVER 100% payback. That means 100% CASH payback from entries and thousands of dollars in additional prizes. We’re in it for the fishermen, local communities and Channel Catfish. If you check out the tournament rosters, you’ll notice a distinct “family” feel to it. We love the friendly competition and comradery these events provide. Lifelong friendships have and will continue to develop as a result. Thank you SO much to everyone that participates in our events to make us one of THE most successful Catfish circuits in the NATION!
If you haven’t checked us out online, please take the opportunity to do so @ montanacats.com. Stay connected to us on social media outlets Facebook, twitter and our message board. Also, please sign up for our email list to stay better informed on ALL the happenings with Montana Cats year-round. Did you miss out on this year's Yellowstone Challenge? Online registration opens EVERY YEAR on January 1st, so don’t forget to check out www.montanacats.com as the calendar turns the corner.
Posted in: Yellowstone Challenge
