New - and old - fun planned at annual Walleye Unlimited banquet

Fresno Chapter, Walleyes Unlimited

The 32nd annual Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited and the Montana Walleyes Unlimited banquet will be Saturday, April 11, at the Havre Ice Dome.

"The Fresno Chapter is really excited about the opportunity to once again host the state banquet," said Fresno Chapter President Steve Chvilicek. "Having people from other communities from all over the state come to Havre is always a tremendous benefit for all of our local businesses and sponsors."

New surprises are surfacing along with Fresno Walleyes' favorite games, raffles and drawings, which will again award hundreds of sponsored prizes worth thousands of dollars during the group's annual Walleyes banquet docking at the Have Ice Dome April 11.

The smoke-free banquet features all-you-can-eat secret batter walleye, baron of beef and all the baits to ready people for an evening of winning entertainment as guests game for big screen TVs, patio furniture, barbecue grills, home furnishings, guns, fine jewelry, artwork and other treasurers.

"There are always so many donated prizes, from guns to trips, jewelry to home furnishings, that could go home with you. They are going home with somebody," said Chvilicek.

April 11 will also be the kickoff for the Fresno Chapter's second annual 30 Gun Raffle. The first gun will be given away the night of the banquet and then one per day for the next 29 days. Only 500 tickets will be sold.

"Don't get shut out," Chvilicek said.

Banquet tickets are on sale along with raffle tickets and are available through Havre Rental, 265-8841, Bing 'N' Bob's Sports Shop, 265-6124, and E-Fish-Hunt Sports/Stromberg's Sinclair, 265-3441, in Havre; at The Walleye Tavern, U.S. Highway 2 at Fresno; and in Big Sandy from Ezzies Conoco, 378-2101.

Banquet tickets are also available online at http://www.fresnowalleyes.com.

Funds raised from the annual banquet support the chapter's numerous improvement projects throughout the year, such the new pavilion and campground going in at Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir, improvements at Baileys Reservoir and a webcam at Fresno Reservoir

"Our cause is your cause - better fishing and greater recreational opportunities," Chvilicek said. "Money raised at our banquet is spent locally to enhance recreation and warm water fishing in northern Montana for residents and visitors alike.

"Thanks to the past support of so many, we have been able to build and maintain a number of amenities at Fresno Reservoir like the campground, pavilion, boat ramps and picnic tables, which are open to the public free of charge," he added. "Thanks to those who support and attend our annual banquet we are able to give college scholarships, treat area fifth- and sixth-graders to our annual Kids Education Day - complete with boat rides, and host our annual Youth Fishing Day at Fresno with lunch and prizes.

"We have been able to provide financial support to the St. Mary's Working Group, pay for garbage services at Beaver Creek Reservoir, provide funding for the Community Effort Campground, Pavilion and fishing pier at Lower Beaver Creek Park and host the Fresno Challenge fishing tournament in summer," Chvilicek continued.

Recently, Walleyes Unlimited purchased and installed new directional signs to Fresno and installed a new vaulted restroom, planted trees, installed underground sprinkler systems, and put in a new webcam at Fresno. The webcam live-streams at http://www. fresnowalleyes.com.

Last summer, Walleyes installed a new LED solar light at the boat ramp in Kremlin Bay.

"Once again we will be giving away a new rod and reel for every child that attends our annual Kids Education Day and Youth Fishing Day," Chvilicek said. "We gave away over 300 rods and reels last year and plan on at least the same number this year. Getting kids hooked on fishing and the outdoors is our main goal"

With continued support from the general public and business donors, the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has been one of the most successful service clubs in the state.

"We just can't thank these people enough," Chvilicek said.

The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, making all donations tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to Fresno Walleyes at P.O. Box 1501, Havre, MT 59501.

The banquet doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with happy hour and early bird door prize drawings called every 15 minutes. The silent and live auctions, bingo and visiting with freshwater fishing enthusiasts brings guests in from all over the state, year after year. The Havre Ice Dome is located at 2585 5th Ave. SE.

For more information, people can call Steve Chvilicek at 262-1670 or Craig Buettner at 265-4517.

People can buy Walleyes Unlimited banquet and raffle tickets at:

• Havre Rental, 265-8841

• Bing ‘N’ Bob’s Sports Shop, 265-6124

• E-Fish-Hunt Sports/Stromberg’s Sinclair, 265-3441, in Havre

• The Walleye Tavern, U.S. Highway 2 at Fresno

• Ezzies Conoco in Big Sandy, 378-2101

Banquet tickets are also available online at http://www.fresnowalleyes.com.

For more information call, Steve Chvilicek at 262-1670 or Craig Buettner at 265-4517.