Chetek Fish-O-Rama looks to 22nd year

by Glen Anderson, Chairman Chetek Fish-O-Rama Committee

Chetek Fish-O-Rama’s 21st year is “in the books” and the Chetek community is enthusiastically looking forward to the 22nd year for this great event.

Last year was another good year for the Fish-O-Rama program, with 108 of the 409 tagged fish that were released into the Chetek chain of six lakes caught for prizes by lucky anglers. The catch rate (23 percent) was down a little from previous years, but the event still paid out more than $7,700 in prize money.

As of mid-April, the Chetek Chain of Lakes still has a lot of “hard water” left from our winter that won’t quit, but the ice will be gone before the annual opener Saturday, May 3. Tagging of the panfish for 2008 will commence within two weeks of ice-out and will be completed by the middle of May as usual. Chetek-area businesses are again enthusiastically making their commitments to sponsor the tagged fish to make the program possible, and we expect to again have more than 400 bluegills and crappies with “reward” tags for 2008. Prize money will range from $25 to $500 per fish, with more than 40 fish carrying $500 rewards.

Chetek Fish-O-Rama started 22 years ago by tagging a single walleye with a prize of $10,000. The program has thrived and evolved into an event that tags between 400 to 500 panfish each year and releases them throughout the Chetek lakes. Each year, between 25-40 percent of those tagged fish are caught and turned in for prize money. Prize money paid out by Fish-O-Rama has been as high as the record year of 2003, in which almost 40 percent of the fish were caught and prize money of $14,650 was paid out to lucky fishermen.

For fishermen who may be new to the Chetek area or Fish-O-Rama, how does the event work? First, anglers have to purchase a Fish-O-Rama Button. They are for sale at almost all businesses, resorts and restaurants throughout the Chetek community. Fishermen must purchase a button prior to catching the fish to qualify for the prize money. Button costs are $3 for an individual, $5 for a couple and $6 for an entire family. All tagged fish should be taken to the Rod & Gun Sport Shop in downtown Chetek, which is the area headquarters for the event. The staff will check the number on the tag against the recorded sponsor and prize amount. If the prize is $25 to $100, winners will be directed to the sponsor of the fish to collect the prize money or gift certificate. If the prize is $500, winners will receive a check directly from the Fish-O-Rama committee.

Chetek Fish-O-Rama will again be cooperating with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for authorization to hold the event. The DNR must issue a “Scientific Collectors Permit” to allow Fish-O-Rama to catch, tag and release the fish in the Chetek Chain of Lakes. In return, Fish-O-Rama provides an annual report to the DNR, which shows how many fish were tagged, the species, length, and location on the Chetek Chain of Lakes where each fish is released and the location for each fish that is caught. This provides the DNR with valuable information as to the travel patterns and harvest rate of fish from this lake system.

Chetek Fish-O-Rama again had surplus funds in 2007, which went back with the community to promote tourism and to improve the Chetek Chain of Lakes fishery. Donations for 2007 included $1,500 to Walleyes for Chetek to purchase and stock yearling walleye fingerlings in the Chetek chain; $500 to Walleyes for Tomorrow to operate hatcheries and construct walleye habitat structure in northwest Wisconsin lakes; $500 to the Chetek Resort Owners Association to assist in the operation of the Chetek information booth; and $500 to the Chetek Hydroflites Water Ski Show Team, which puts on entertaining water ski shows throughout the summer.

Chetek Fish-O-Rama wants to welcome everyone back to Chetek for the 2008 season and hopes you are lucky enough to catch a tagged fish to enhance your Chetek experience. Remember to please patronize our local businesses that sponsor Fish-O-Rama and enjoy yourself in Chetek in 2008!