LOTW Jan. 4,5,6

these photos were taken during the LARRY FUNK FISHING CLASSIC out of Ballards Resort on Lake of the Woods Jan. 5th and 6th. The Classic is a group of about 70 guys who have been fishing LOTW together for several years. This was my first time up with them and expectations were high. We left about 9 am Friday morning heading up hwy 65. Being the fng i just sat back and tried to learn from the veterans on the proper procedures involved in the trip up. I had no idea that it was state law that said we had to stop every 75 miles or so for Bloody Marys. i think we finally made it up there by 6 pm. It was hard to sleep friday night being anxious to get out on the ice, my first time setting foot on this beautiful lake! & oclock found me loading up into a 12 person bomber and headed out past Pine island into about 22 foot of water. The fishing was slower than i hoped for but i did manage to catch 6 fish for the day. If you look at the pictures you can see i was on a mission from the DNR to study the younger year classes. Trust me the future looks good for lotw. my partners Steve and Jack and myself caught a total of 12 fish with one nice 16 ” keeper Sunday we got out a little earlier and were put in a nice 3 man house in about 24 fow. Fishing continued to be slow but hey we were fishing . Long about 10:30 steve decided we needed to change our luck so he mixed up a batch of bloodys and we switched up some on our presentations….. Nothing …. The bloody went down suprisingly well so i decided to make myself another so i sat my nice shiny new St Croix down and went to the other side of the fish house to mix it up. Having finished that procedure i went to sit back down and grabbed the Croix to give it a little jiggle and thought i had snagged the bottom until the bottom started moving. So i set the hook hard and started the fight….WOW… I knew right away that there was something big down there . I didnt take to long before experience told me that this fish probably wasnt a walleye and i told my partners this very thing but i also knew that as part of the Larry Funk Fishing classic the largest pout would pay 150.00. So i fought this fish like the trophy it was. after about ten minutes we finally pulled it through the ice and let out a loud What a gas. Then i got on the radio to proclaim my victory and to call for the classic official to come over and weigh the beast That is him in the background of the picture. A few more pictures were taken Including the sponsor shot. All in all this first time on LOTW was truly a trip to remember. The only way it could have been better is if my Bro DINO would have been feeling well enough to be up there with us. The last picture was the required sunset shot that we all take when we are up fishing . It never gets old. I cant wait till my next trip up , and i am hoping to make it at least twice next year. My only regret is at the time i went up there i did not know about the IDO ice fishing contest or i would have had the proper paperwork with me. I am just hoping this fish will gain me my admittance into the BRIANK fan club :