Warm weather won't stop Murph's Annual Ice Fishing Tournament this weekend

The warm weather that has graced the area over the last week isn't going to hamper the Murph's Annual Ice Fishing Tournament according to his widow, Cindy Murphy. On Monday morning, Cindy told the PCN that the tourney is on and the fish are biting.

"There are still 18 or 19 inches of ice," Cindy said. "As far as I know (the tournament) is going to go off without a hitch. People have been out there fishing and they are all saying they aren't having any problems out there."

Murph passed away nine years ago and in his honor Cindy and Rhonda Dalby decided that an ice fishing tournament would be the perfect way to remember him.

This year will be the ninth installment of the tournament. At the First Murph's Annual Ice Fishing Tournament the contest was limited to 29 anglers. Since then, the number has grown to 250, which is the maximum size Montana Fish and Game will allow for the size of the area. The tournament has three categories: biggest Northern Pike, biggest Walleye and the biggest Perch.

"Murph was kind of a storyteller so we also added in the biggest lie category," Cindy laughed. "They weren't all fish stories either."

The tournament is 100-percent payback to the anglers and any donations made are then given to local non-profit groups throughout Phillips and Valley Counties (for instance, following the first ever event, monies were given to Malta Walleye's Unlimited. In turn, The Malta Walleye's used the money to finish their boat ramps at the Nelson Reservoir. Other groups who have received donations following Murph's Tournament have included the Hi-Line Retirement Center, Phillips County Boy's and Girl's Club and the Hinsdale Schools.) Look for results from this weekend's tournament in the PCN in the coming weeks.