Three local people win big prizes in the 2023 Falcon Fish-Off

The 18th annual Falcon Lake Winter Fish-Off took place last Saturday from 11am-2pm. Plenty of fish were caught, a lot of money was raised for St. Amant Foundation, and 50 prizes were given away. 

The skies were sunny and the wind stayed low, organizer Ian Young says it was an excellent day. 

“It really turned out well. We caught a record number of fish, 235 weighed in, and a 13+ pounder took home $15,000 cash.” 

They gave away over $70,000 worth of cash and prizes. 

“Plus, everybody went home with a free Strike Master toque.” 

Young notes the 50/50 pot was over $20,000. 

“We raised a ton of money for Saint Amont Foundation, which is really what it's all about.” 

As always, they had a hidden weight contest. In the past, their hidden weight was set up where you had to hit the exact hidden weight, but this year their hidden weight was a guaranteed prize. 

He says it was interesting because there were five fish caught that were 0.01 away from the hidden weight, but only one could win. 

“The hidden weight was 1.89 pounds and there were three fish at 1.9 and two fish at 1.88. So, the way the rule is written is that in the event of a tie, the first fish is the sole winner,” he says. “So the guy who weighed in the fish first ended up taking home the Lund boat, motor, and trailer.” 

Young couldn’t be happier about the success of the fish-off this year. 

“I mean, there's so much to say. I get all emotional, even thinking about it,” he says. “We're supported by so many people, The Saint Amont Foundation, really the entire fishing community in Manitoba, there's way too many people to thank, but it means so much to me.” 

Out of all 50 prizes, the biggest prize was for $15,000, and was won by the person who caught the heaviest fish. 

Eric Poklitar from the Linden area caught the 13.76 pound fish that earned him the $15,000 grand prize.

Poklitar is handed the grand prize.

He says it was his first ever fish that he caught on a tip-up, and it won him the grand prize. 

“The guy that was fishing next to us, Jay Siemens, I actually watched one of his videos to learn how to use a tip up and it ended up paying off big.” 

Poklitar says it was pretty neat that he was sat near the guy who he learned from. 

“He ended up showing up like 30 minutes after we did, and he plopped down like 20 feet from us. It was just coincidental." 

So literally first fish ever caught on a tip-up, and it's worth $15,000. 

Poklitar says the first thing he will do with the money: 

“Buy something for my 2-year-old daughter. Her name is Brogan.” 

He says he has no idea what he will buy for her, but it will be ‘something nice.’  

Jaime Linn from Steinbach was the 50/50 winner, and he won $10,000.

Linn (holding the cash) with organizers, friends, and family.

 He had a hard time truly believing that he won. 

“'We'll let that sink in for a minute.’ I believe is what he (the announcer) said. I had to double check and I'm like, ‘yeah, that's my ticket.’ And I walked over, he double checked it, and that was the ticket,” he says. “And here I am, 10,000 bucks richer.” 

Linn notes he took a quite a while to realize he won, as they were getting ready to redraw. 

“I really had to make sure I read the number right, and I walked over there pretty briskly when I thought it was pretty close.” 

Linn is currently a student in the Industrial Welding program at MITT in Winnipeg, and says he could use the money. 

“Extra cash is always helpful, that's for sure.” 

He’s not sure what he will end up using the money for, as he wants to consult with his family. 

“We're probably going to go for a nice supper, that's the first thing on my mind,” he says. “And figure out what we want to do with it when we get home, talk to everybody and see what we want to do with it.” 

Linn came to the fish-off with his sons Avery and Adrian, and says they brought him the luck needed to win the money. 

“They're both pretty lucky, especially when we go fishing, it's almost always a good day. Whenever we go outdoors and have fun like this, it's almost a memory every single time we go out, so this is just another one for the books,” he says. “This one's a bit exclamatory I would say. This is a milestone for sure. It might take a bit to top this one, but they're definitely my good luck charms, that's for sure.” 

Cody Lindal from West Hawk Lake, originally from Grunthal, came in 3rd place with a fish weighing 10.44 lbs.

Lindal with his Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra Beast E-bike.

The prize for third was a Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra Beast E-bike.

He says he fought hard to get his desired fishing spot, and it paid off. 

“I ran across about half the ways there with a broken left foot, I got the boot on,” he says. “I saw the flag go up, and started booking it, and got there in time I guess.” 

Lindal was using a tip-up, and a cisco with a pike rig. 

"It is my only fish of the day, so I got lucky.” 

With files from Corny Rempel