Indian Mountain Lake held its fifth annual Bass Tournament recently. Fifty residents participated for bragging rights and cash prizes. Fourteen volunteers helped at four measuring stations around the 45-acre main lake and one roving station in the water. Volunteers also helped in the kitchen where hot dogs, chicken fingers and fries were available.

The tournament was catch and release of smallmouth and largemouth bass using only artificial bait. Half of the $20 entry fee was used for prizes and the other half to restock the lake.

Kids 16 and under fished for free.

There were cash prizes for the largest fish and total combined weight of three fish. A bonus prize of $50 was given for “tagged” bass that were stocked.

Colin Cross, 10, said “patience is needed for fishing.” Five-year-Ben Cross said he “likes to catch fish and look at them.”

Glen Houser caught his first bigmouth bass of the tournament at 1.34 pounds. He’s fished most of his life and said “Fishing is relaxing and challenging, what’s better than this?”

Steve Korte, 14, said that he uses a sparkly octagon shaped worm because the bass can see it and it doesn’t get as many weeds. He’s been fishing, “since I was little and I like catching the biggest fish.”

Paul Maillard, who won five years in a row, won this year with a combined weight of 5.03 pounds. He donated the prize back to the fishing committee. The committee has been doing lake and fishery improvements the past three years and continues to stock Indian Mountain lakes. John Zemith won for adults biggest fish. Kieran Weaver took first place in both the kids largest fish and combined weight.