Perch and Pout Fest Draws 1,700-plus

Our coverage of the Ducks Unlimited Fishing Tournament will run Tuesday, allowing for follow-up and a large array of photos posted online. See more photos from the Hunters Point Perch and Pout Fest in our photo gallery, click here.

Saturday’s Annual Hunters Point Perch and Pout Fest drew more than 1,700 anglers to the eastern shore of Mille Lacs Lake.

The top three Perch placers were:   Jeff Novotny 1.370 lbs;  Gordy Brehmer 1.340 lbs;  Andy Olson 1.330 lbs.  The top three Pout were:  Tom Inderieden 2.255 lbs;  Toni Baumgartner 2.045 lbs;  Patty Pribbenow 1.290 lbs. The winners in each class got a $300 cash prize.

Thanks to a hard freeze on Friday evening, the lake stiffened, allowing for easy travel after what had developed into some slop Thursday.   The Perch and Pout Fest also served as a “tune-up” for this Saturday’s 28^th Annual Perch Extravaganza, which will be run out of Hunters Point Resort.  That event could draw more than 4,000 anglers.  Make It Mille Lacs will run a preview of that event Wednesday on our home page and be there to cover it Saturday.

At Hunter’s Point Saturday, the resort was a beehive of activity with a meat raffle, a full bar and the restaurant all humming while the tournament ran from 7 am to 2 pm.  Scott Peterson, general manager, and Doug Ertl, public relations director, were multi-tasking to keep everything rolling.

Those clad in Hunters Point attire indoors may have been a slight minority, making you wonder just how big of a following this resort has.  With more than 1,000 Facebook fans and one of the top web sites on the Big Pond, Hunters Point has a very loyal customer base as we found out.

“It’s our home away from home – it’s our winter weekend house,” said Cindy Taylor, Monticello.  She and her husband, Jeremiah, were enjoying the meat raffle with Guerry and Suzanne Schuman of Maple Grove.  Guerry wore the “signature” Hunters Point black and red sweat shirt, joining a bevy of others who also sported the gear. “The first time we came here we met George and Linda (Nitti) and they talked to us and they’ve never forgotten our name.”

“The customer service here is awesome,” said Suzanne who won three meat raffle draws while we were there. “You can always expect to come back and see the people you know.”