New London fishing contest April 16-18

By John Faucher

The New London Fish and Game Club is again changing up its long standing Whopper Weekend tradition, due to the continued presence of COVID-19.

This year, the club is bringing back a traditional three day fishing contest during the height of the spring walleye run April 16-18.

Last year the club was forced to cancel the event in April and hold a one day drawing and modified contest at its clubhouse in May.

New London Fish and Game Club Director Roger Krueger said this year will again have a slightly different look and feel.

“Because the city still has mass gathering restrictions in place for large events we had to change things up a bit to adapt,” said Krueger.

The club is offering an angler walk-up fish registration station at the east side of the Riverside Park boat launch at the bait shop from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 16-17 and from 6 am. to 3 p.m. on April 18.

There will not be entertainment or refreshments served for the fishing contest on those three days in April. Angler prizes will be awarded for the longest walleye, longest one day stringer, longest three day stringer and longest bass.

Daily door prizes will be given to anglers for registering fish.

“We wanted to save the traditional “fishing dates” and keep that historical angling contest alive through another year of COVID, while once again planning our big event, grand prize raffle and entertainment day out at the clubhouse where we can better spread out and socially distance,” said Krueger.

The official Whopper Weekend grand prize raffle drawing and social event is scheduled from 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday, May 15, at the Fish and Game clubhouse on Old Highway 45.

Traditional buffalo burgers, food and refreshments will be served and there will be live entertainment in the clubhouse.

Krueger said tickets are already on sale throughout town for the Whopper Weekend grand prize sportsman raffle drawing. Admission to clubhouse May 15 is free.