BRAINERD – Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge has a long history of helping people break free from the chains of addiction and restore broken families.
“When fishing, faith and freedom from addiction are combined, amazing things can happen,” organizers said.
The Minnesota Fishing Challenge is one of the largest fundraising events that helps fund the work of Teen Challenge each year. Prior to this event, anglers set another annual record by raising more than $611,000 to support Teen Challenge drug and alcohol programs across the state. The cumulative amount generated through this family-friendly tournament since 2008 exceeds $5 million. Lead fundraisers Stu Nelson and Rich Brummer of Cloquet are passionate about restoring the lives of people who feel enslaved by drugs and alcohol; their hard work generated $102,000. In total, 14 of the teams raised at least $10,000 to support the needs of the Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge.
Anglers of all ages support the Teen Challenge and fish at the event. Noah Moran of Edina holds a couple of nice bass.
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June 1 brought beautiful weather and good fishing conditions. The 120 two-person teams that fished in the 16th annual Fleet Farm Minnesota Fishing Challenge brought plenty of fish to the scale to the delight of several hundred spectators.
“This event draws people from all walks of life with a common goal: saving lives,” tournament director Bernie Barringer said in the news release. “From professional anglers and fishing celebrities to young and old, those who fish in this event are focused on fun and raising important funds for an incredible cause: saving the lives of people trapped in chemical addiction. “We are seeing amazing things happen and restoring broken families.”
Tournament host Al Lindner noted, “The weather was great and many fish were caught and we thank the Lord for another miracle with the amount of funds raised that will help Teen Challenge meet the needs of those affected throughout Minnesota.” .
He continued, “Everyone involved, from the corporate sponsors to the anglers to the community, can see the hand of God in this event. You have to be here or participate to support this amazing event!
Andrew Leland and Nicole Jacobs finished second in the bass division with their three lunkers.
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Three of the top three teams of students and anglers won $1,000 college scholarships from Sea Foam. In total, 50 teams earned a trip through the prize tent, the top 10 in each of the five divisions.
The Navillus Land Company Walleye Division produced many walleyes of all sizes this year, including some big ones. Brainerd’s Ryan Schwieters and Becca Schreurs took home honors and the first-place trophy with 17.48 pounds for their top three fish.
The Nisswa Lions Panfish Division (three panfish) was difficult to win this year as larger crappie were difficult to find due to the unusual spring weather. Zimmerman partners Tony and Steve Ward found them late in the day and arrived with three crappie weighing 6.45 pounds.
Lindner Media’s Bass Division presented the weights of the three best bass brought in. A good bass bite saw plenty of limits on the scales, but Fargo’s Andrew Shae and Randin Olson topped the field with 13.37 pounds for their top three fish.
Zimmerman’s Tony and Steve Ward are hard to beat in the panfish division, finding the big crappie year after year.
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Nor-Son Pike Division winners Jessalyn Roussin and Brendon Chester of Clearwater found the big ones and came in with two weighing 9.85 pounds. The Fishing Challenge pike limit is two northern pike that must be under 30 inches.
The challenging Premiere Marine Mixed Bag division consists of a pike, a walleye, a bass and a panfish. Only 14 teams managed to get all four species. Dave Wagner of Baxter and Josh Johnson of Cambridge brought in one of each for a total of 14.04 pounds.
The Navigate North Big Walleye award went to Ryan Schwieters and Becca Schreurs of Brainerd for their 7.43-pound walleye. The McDonald’s Big Bass award went to Tim Hanske of Baxter and Tim Thoele of Marco Island, Florida, for a huge largemouth weighing 4.58 pounds. As a prize, the winners of these two awards received a giant 3-foot-long Rapala lure autographed by Al Lindner.
The “Ugliest Fish” category for Beaudry oil and propane went to Warren Arnold of Sauk Rapids. He wins a plaque and bragging rights for the year for the homely dogfish he brought.
Prizes were awarded on Friday and Saturday, including guided fishing trips, as well as quality rods, reels, electronics, trolling motors, tackle and equipment.
Cragun’s beach is a busy place as fishermen bring in their fish while the community comes out to enjoy the festivities.
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Additionally, each team that raised at least $500 was entered into a drawing for a new Lund boat powered by Mercury and equipped with Humminbird and Minn Kota electronics. The platform was won by the team of Chris and Ben Reierson from Surry, North Dakota. They raised more than $17,000.
The Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, a faith-based organization, offers a high long-term success rate for addiction recovery. The money raised at this event allows the program to accept addicts regardless of their ability to pay. Teen Challenge has recently expanded to Alexandria, Mankato and a new women’s campus in Brainerd. Lives are saved and families restored thanks to the Minnesota Fishing Challenge.
The 2025 fundraising tournament event will be June 7.
Top student anglers Gavin and Brayden Greene were one of three student teams to win $1,000 in Sea Foam college scholarships.
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