Nearly 90 students show up for Malta Walleye Unlimited Ice Fishing Day despite frigid temps

Not high-winds nor below zero temperatures dissuaded the nearly 90 students who joined the Malta Walleyes Unlimited during their annual ice fishing day at Nelson Reservoir early this month.

"And each school brought three or four chaperones, there was a handful of Fish, Wildlife and Parks folks and about a dozen Walleye members out there that day," said Malta Walleye Don Voegel. "It was a really good turnout."

A total of 31 students from Malta, 33 students from Hays, and 10 students each from Whitewater and East Malta Colony joined the Malta Walleyes on a day filled with ice fishing, barbequed hotdogs and snacks galore.

The day started with an ice safety class, followed by a species identification class and then the fishing started.

Malta Walleyes member John Demarais said he took an informal survey of the students out for the day of fishing and estimates that 80-percent of them were happy to be there.

"The other 20-percent just weren't dressed warm enough and didn't really want to be there," he said. "It was brutally cold out there, but the kids braved it well and they had a good time."

Voegel said that the Malta Walleyes set up a few icehouses and spearing shacks to give the students reprieve from the nasty weather, but at the end of the day, not many fish were caught.

"Only four fish," said Voegel. "Last year we caught close to 30."

"The kids couldn't stay out there to fish for very long because it was so cold," added Demarais. "If they would have been able to stay out there longer, there would have been more fish caught. But that is sometimes the way it goes in the middle of February. From what I can tell, everyone had fun anyway."

Voegel said that Malta Middle School is currently in the process of implementing classes that will be taught by FWP about wildlife so this year's fishing outing was in line with the future classes.

"The school is excited to have those classes upcoming," he said.

CHS Milk River provided water and soda for the children, Malta Walleyes provided the dogs and chips – the barbeque was manned by Pete Dalby – and no one went home hungry.

"We bought about 200 hotdogs and kids could have as many as they wanted," said Voegel. "What we didn't cook we took over the Phillips County Boys and Girls Club."

The Malta Walleyes Unlimited is currently in the process of taking nominations for their annual Young Angler of the year. Applications can be picked up at Westside Sports or First Security Bank. The applications must be submitted by Thursday, March 19.

The Malta Walleyes Unlimited are also currently taking applications for a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a Phillips County graduating senior, or a student currently enrolled in secondary education. Nominations must be made by a Malta Walleye member. The scholarship applications can also be picked up at Westside Sports or First Security Bank and must be submitted by March 19.

In other Malta Walleyes Unlimited new, the group held their annual election in January and Jon Kautt was named the new president. Kautt has been a member of the local chapter for the past 15 years and is taking his time getting acclimated to the new position.

"I'm still trying to get me feet on the ground and am still relying on Don a lot," he said.

Kautt said that some of the new ideas he has for the group is to try to get fish cleaning stations built near Murph's Landing and the group will also continue to work on improving, replacing and building new boat launches at local fishing spots.

"The big project we are working on is the boat ramps at the State Parks or the Head Gates," he added. "We would be able to put them at both if there is enough funding."

For any questions about the Malta Walleyes Unlimited, people are encouraged to call Kautt at 390-2146 or Demarais at 301-1075.