Storm Lake Kiwanis fishing tournament draws 31 anglers, honors longtime entrant

Thirty-one anglers showed up for the 31st Annual Kiwanis Fishing Tournament, but the real measure of the day was not the fish. It was the mix of repeat entrants, two youth anglers under 15, families on the bank and Bill Mason of Alta drawing a standing ovation for never missing a year.

The event unfolded Saturday, May 16, as one of Storm Lake’s most familiar spring rituals, equal parts competition and reunion. Braedn Kirsch led the way with a walleye that measured 25.01 inches and earned $300, while also taking third place in the walleye standings. The tournament’s top catfish prize was $100, and Mike Schuknecht stayed close to the front of that race with a 6-pound, 12-ounce catfish.

The numbers mattered, but the atmosphere mattered just as much. Several Storm Lake banks, businesses and restaurants donated cash, gift certificates and prizes, helping give the tournament the easygoing, neighborhood feel that has long defined it. Anglers traded stories about walleyes and catfish, while the leaderboard created just enough competition to keep the morning moving.

The Kiwanis Beavers Club, a roughly 20-member morning club, has used the fishing tournament as a steady source of local service work. Proceeds help furnish the new Kiwanis Park at East Fifth and Russell streets, and the club also supports scholarships for local students. That makes the tournament more than a one-day outing. It is one of the ways the club keeps money, labor and goodwill cycling back through Buena Vista County.

Mason’s recognition captured that larger purpose. A box of turkey fillets and a full-house ovation honored a man whose steady presence has helped turn a simple fishing competition into a durable community custom. Year after year, the tournament keeps bringing together the same mix of anglers, volunteers and supporters, proving that small traditions can still hold a town together.