HOUGHTON LAKE – Kristi Sawatzki of Frankenmuth was fishing in Lake St. Helen when she landed a tagged bluegill in the 2016-17 Houghton Lake Area Tourism Bureau’ Catch Us If You Can fishing contest.
Sawatzki and her family have been fishing at Michigan’ Other Great Lakes (Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake and Lake St. Helen) for many years. They recently purchased a cabin and go out on the lakes every weekend they can.
‘It was so exciting to catch one of the tagged fish,’ she said. ‘My grandfather, Bob Marin, taught me everything he knew about fishing. Now my 11-year-old son, Drew, plans on being a professional fisherman. He has won a couple of fishing contests for youths sponsored in St. Helen.
‘He plans on catching his own tagged fish this year.’
Her catch was verified at contest sponsor Lyman’ on the Lake where she received a $50 gas card for bringing the tag in.
Sawatzki is in entered in the April 2017 grand prize drawing at Spicer’ Boat City in Houghton Lake. The grand prize is $100,000 and Lund boat from Spicer’. There is a guaranteed major prize of $500 cash and $500 in prizes.
The second place prize is a Mark Martin Ice Fishing School valued at $500.
Anglers can bring their tagged fish in for verification at Lyman’ and H&H Fireworks in Houghton Lake, as well as Korbinski’ Marine in Prudenville, West Higgins Lake Hardware, and Trail’ End Motel in St. Helen.
For more information on the contest, please contact the HLATB office at 1-989-422-2002, 1-800-676-5330 or email info@visithoughtonlake.com. Contest rules are found on www.visithoughtonlake.com.
