Palmer was the place to be last Saturday, as a pair of events led to huge crowds on both Lake Julia and Briggs Lake. The Briggs Lake Chain Association held its fifth annual Ice Day on Lake Julia, with hundreds of people attending the event to celebrate unique Minnesotan culture. Meanwhile, to the south and west on Briggs Lake, the Becker BASS team was busy hosting its Holes for Heroes event, a day to celebrate law enforcement, military veterans and first responders with ice fishing opportunities for the entire family.

Briggs Lake

The temperatures were frigid at times, but the Becker BASS team participated in a statewide fishing tournament against groups from 15 other lakes across the state. Volunteers from the team provided warm places to fish for several groups, including some local military vets, a Cub Scout group and some young men from the MN Adult and Teen Challenge Program.

Team members and volunteers missed out on first place in the tournament by just a half an inch overall in the event, which was scored by taking the measurement of the single longest fish in each of the six species categories.

The longest fish caught by the group was a 22.75” Pike landed by Mike Koenig, while Koenig and Gavin Goenner tied for the longest Walleye at 16.75”. 

Grand Vetsch contributed to the total with a 7.75” Sunfish, while Ryle Sowers hauled in a 10.25” Crappie. 

“The Becker Bass Team would like to thank all the volunteers who endured the cold weather and made the event a success,” stated a press release issued by the team. “Special thanks to Matt Paumen for being the Briggs Lake and Measure Master, Melanie Handshoe, Jen Wright and Katie Meyer for helping with the food, and all of the families who supplied the houses and equipment to make the day a success.”

The group also sang the praises of Dusty and Jen Wright for their endless contributions to the team. 

“They created a special event which included a variety of people who came together to enjoy a common hobby, an afternoon of ice fishing,” read the statement.

The day had a patriotic theme, complete with the playing of the National Anthem at the beginning of the tournament, as well as several flags that celebrated the Armed Forces, First Responders and Law Enforcement.

Lake Julia

Meanwhile, Lake Julia was the site of the annual Ice Day festivities, which induced a free fishing contest, ice golf, skating, corn hole and pond hockey.

The celebratory scene on the lake included many fish houses, as well as a hospitality tent at center ice where beverages, food and fun could all be found.

New to the event this year was a Vintage Snowmobile Show sponsored by the Palmer Powder Hounds Snowmobile Club. The inaugural event drew a total of 13 entries, as the vintage machines rode from the Town Hall to the lake.

Sam Peterson brought home the top place in the contest with his beautiful 1966 Polaris Colt.

Also participating in the event was long-time Santiago resident Richard Harshman, who navigated to the event on his all original (except for some new fuel lines and touch up paint) 1968 Ski-Doo Olympic.

Harshman shared some memories of his history in snowmobiling, which included membership in the Clear Lake Sno-Hustlers Club in the 1970’s and then 30 years as a member of the Big Lake Sno-Cruisers.  

Although he says he’s “getting too old to ride” as much as he used to, he still tries to go on a vintage ride or two each year.

Richard and his wife of 64 years, Jeanette, began snowmobiling in the 1960’s and enjoyed the hobby for many years. They both served as snowmobile safety trainers for many years and spent a lot of time and miles (250,000+) on their motorcycle as well.

“We would go from the motorcycle in the summer to the snowmobile in the winter,” Richard said.