Submitted by Lin Linder, EGRRSC
ELLSWORTH, WI – The Eau Galle Rush River Sportsman’s Club (EGRRSC) held their 49th Annual Trout Fishing Contest on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Ellsworth Rod and Gun Club.
Despite a cool morning, it warmed up by the afternoon, making for a very nice day. A total of sixty-two trout were weighed in compared to just nineteen last year. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has reported that there are 5,000 trout per mile in the Rush River. This year, the trout appeared to be smaller than in previous years but still included several nice fish.
Attendees enjoyed a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage and ended with an outstanding chicken dinner of chicken, carrots, baked potato and a dinner roll. Thank you to Sue Boyer for breakfast and all her help in the kitchen and thank you to David Kiefer and Andrew Kiefer who prepared the dinner.
The Eau Galle Rush River Sportsman’s Club thanks the Ellsworth Rod and Gun Club for the use of their building and their auction donation. We would also like to thank all those who donated to our auction, it was appreciated.
Thank you to 89-year-old Jack Hines for once again doing a fantastic job with our auction.
The Club will use the proceeds to continue to work on our land, river and other conservation projects. This year, prizes were also offered to youth that didn’t require a trout.
The contest winners include Raffle ticket winners – $300 to Logan Sotona of Spring Valley, WI, $150 to Roger Nelson of Ellsworth, WI and $50 to Chuck Christopherson of Spring Valley, WI. Trout Ticket Winners included – $100 to Arby Linder of Spring Valley, WI, $100 to Weston Gooding of Martell, WI, $50 to Chris Linder of Ellsworth, WI, and $50 to Chad Falde of Martell, WI.
The trout plaque winners included Jay Bauer, of Ellsworth, WI who won the adult award for his 2.97-pound, 20-inch, brown trout and Dawson Sotona of Spring Valley, WI, six-years-old, who won the youth award with his 2.57-pound, 20-inch, brown trout.
