Chetek Wisconsin Vacation Guide

CHETEK WISCONSIN'S FISH-O-RAMA
OUR 22 nd YEAR
On the Chetek Chain
May 3 - October 1, 2008

As of July 1, 2008 ---- 60 - $25 Fish have been caught and been recorded
   1 -$50 fish has been caught
       2 - $100 fish has been caught
        12 - $500 fish have been caught

21^st YEAR IS A BONANZA FOR

CHETEK FISH-O-RAMA

Chetek's Fish-o-rama 21^st year was another great year for the program. Following a couple of years where the tagged fish catch rate was less than normal, 2007 was again a banner year with fisherman bringing in a high percentage of the tagged fish from the Chetek Chain of Lakes. The prize money paid out was over $7,700 with 107 of the 409 tagged fish being caught and brought in for prize money. Early warm spring weather resulted in all of the fish being tagged prior to the opening of fishing season. A new enthusiastic crew of volunteers headed by Mike Clopek from Sand Beach Lodge got the fish tagged and distributed throughout the Chetek Chain of Lakes prior to the “opener” and had the fish ready and waiting when season opened.

Catching and tagging for 2008 will start again over the last weeks of April and the committee looks forward to another successful year for Fish-o-rama. Ice-out for the Chetek Chain was very early this year on March 31, 2007. As of the date of this writing, the follow-up weather is not cooperating, however, with below normal temperatures, occasional snow and a reskimming of ice on some of the lake, but there are still 3 weeks before opener and we are optimistic we will again have most of the fish tagged by opener on May 3, 2008. Hundreds of bluegills and crappies will again be distributed throughout the 3000 acres of the Chetek Chain of Lakes waiting for lucky fisherman to catch them to claim prizes from $25 to $500 each

Chetek Fish-O-Rama started 21 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 pan fish each year and releases them throughout the Chetek lakes. Each year between 25% to 40 % 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% of the fish were caught and prize money of $14,650 was paid out to lucky fisherman. 2006 was a very good year with $10,350 paid out in prize money

For you fisherman who may be new to the Chetek area or Fish-O-Rama, how does the event work? First, you have to purchase a Fish-o-rama Button. They are for sale at almost all business, resorts and restaurants throughout the Chetek community. You 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. If you catch a tagged fish, you take it to the Rod and Gun Sport Shop which is the area headquarters for the event. They will check the number on the tag against the recorded sponsor and prize amount. If the prize is $25 to $100 you will be directed to the sponsor of the fish to collect your prize money. If the prize is $500 you will receive a check directly from the Fish-O-Rama committee. (This year we again expect to have in excess of 40 fish which have prize values of $500)

One fact that most people do not know is that Fish-O-Rama is made possible only with the cooperation of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Fish-O-Rama must obtain a “Scientific Collectors Permit” to be allowed to catch, tag, release and then pay out prize money on Chetek’s most valuable resource, THE FISH!! In return, we provide an annual report to WDNR which shows how many fish we tag, the species, length and location on the Chetek Chain of Lakes and where they are released. We then keep track of how many fish are caught and the location where the fish are caught. This provides WDNR with valuable information as to the travel patterns and harvest rate of fish from our lake system.

Chetek Area Sponsors Make The Event Possible

The Chetek Fish-O-Rama would not be possible without the support of all the local businesses and individuals which sponsor the fish. Businesses which sponsor a $25 to $100 fish pay out the entire prize money to the lucky fisherman if their fish is caught. Many area businesses sponsor multiple fish, sometimes up to a dozen. If a business sponsors a $500 fish they pay $100 to the Fish-O-Rama Committee at the beginning of the season for each fish sponsored. If their fish caught, then the Committee pays out the entire $500 to the winner.

The Fish-o-rama committee likes to believe the event is not just about catching tagged fish and paying out prize money, but about promoting the Chetek Chain Of Lakes as an enjoyable, relaxing community with a spectacular group of six interconnected lakes which provide a great place to live and a great vacation destination for our thousands of annual tourists. For that reason any surplus monies generated by Fish-o-rama are utilized to promote the Chetek community and make improvements to our lake system. If the catch rate for the tagged fish is high, such as in 2003, all button sales monies goes toward paying out the prize money for the $500 prize fish. However in most years the sale of buttons and fish sponsor money result in surplus funds in the Fish-o-rama program. Those funds go back to promote lake improvement projects or the promotion of tourism for the Chetek community. In 2006 Fish-O-Rama donated $3900 back to projects to improve the Chetek area and it’s lakes. 2005 donations included: Walleyes For Chetek (to purchase fingerling walleyes to stock our lakes) - $500, Chetek Resort Owners Assoc. - $1500, Chetek Hydroflytes Waterski team - $600, Chetek Lake Protection Assoc. $300, Refurbish “Welcome to Chetek” sign $1000 Over just the past six years Fish-O-Rama has made donations of over $15,000 back to improvements and promotions of the Chetek community and our lake system. Other projects have included funding fish cribs and “Keep Lake Clean” signs and the “Welcome To Chetek” sign

The Chetek Fish-o-rama wants to thank all people who have purchased Fish-o-rama buttons over the years and all the businesses and individuals who sponsor the prize fish and make the program possible. We hope you continue to enjoy our Chetek community and Great Chain of Six Lakes.

Come on out in 2008 and try your luck !!