31st Annual Bishop’s Fishing Tournaments
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026
BIG STONE CITY – DOUTHITT PARK
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026
PIERRE – OAHE DOWNSTREAM RECREATIONAL AREA
Established in 1996, the annual Bishop’s Fishing Tournaments are held in two locations – on Big Stone Lake in Big Stone City and on the Missouri River near Pierre. These unique family-friendly events include a bass and walleye tournament, an outdoor Mass celebrated by Bishop DeGrood and attending clergy, a silent auction, youth games and activities, raffles and an outdoor prime rib dinner.
Benefiting Seminarian Education
There are currently 10 men discerning their call to the priesthood for the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Your participation in these fishing tournaments helps fund the formation and education of these men, which on average costs $47,000 per seminarian each year. Help us reach our goal of funding 3-4 seminarians each year!
Tournament Details
Big Stone City
June 1, 2026
SCHEDULE
7:00 a.m. Check-in and Onsite Registration Begins
7:15 a.m. Boat Launch Opens
7:50 a.m. Opening Remarks, Rules, and Tournament Blessing
8:00 a.m. Tournament Begins; Kids Dessert Contest Drop-off Begins
2:30 p.m. Weigh-In; Kids Activities Begin: Gaga ball & Bean Bag Toss
3:30 p.m. Mass with Bishop Donald DeGrood and Attending Clergy
4:15 p.m. Social, Kids Activities Continue, and Kids Dessert Contest Judging Begins
5:00 p.m. Outdoor Prime Rib Dinner, Program, and Awards
Pierre
June 8, 2026
SCHEDULE
6:30 a.m. Check-in Begins
7:30 a.m. Rules, Blessing and Boats Depart Parking Lot
8:00 a.m. Tournament Begins; Kids Dessert Conteset Drop-off Begins
2:30 p.m. Weigh-In
3:30 p.m. Mass with Bishop Donald DeGrood and Attending Clergy
4:15 p.m. Social, Kids Activities, Kids Dessert Contest Judging Begins
5:00 p.m. Outdoor Prime Rib Dinner, Program and Awards
Prize Categories
Individual
Largest Walleye – Youth
Largest Walleye – Adult
Largest Bass – Youth
Largest Bass – Adult
Largest Other Fish
Team
Most Total Weight Bass – 1st place
Most Total Weight Bass – 2nd place
Most Total Weight Bass – 3rd place
Most Total Weight Walleye – 1st place
Most Total Weight Walleye – 2nd place
Most Total Weight Walleye – 3rd place
Knights Challenge – Most Total Weight
Tournament Results
Big Stone City
Largest Walleye – Youth
Matthew Carlson | 5.95
Largest Walleye – Adult
Matt Hartman | 6.7
Largest Bass – Youth
Ryland Anderson | 2.74
Largest Bass – Adult
Mark Schlenker | 3.86
Largest Other Fish
Cole Christian | Carp: 17.7
Most Total Weight Bass – 1st place
Tim Brown, Jeff Carino, Adam Dashiell | 20.35
Most Total Weight Bass – 2nd place
Nate Fonder, Trevor Greiner, Brian Meyer, Will Peckelder | 19.14
Most Total Weight Bass – 3rd place
Allen Schlenker, Mark Schlenker, Dcn. Andrew Mullaney, Mike North | 18.3
Most Total Weight Walleye – 1st place
Joe Livermont, Rick Dilts, Matt Hinton, Ben Ulin | 20.8
Most Total Weight Walleye – 2nd place
Jim Hartman, Bill Hartman, Matt Hartman | 18.63
Most Total Weight Walleye – 3rd place
Andy Carlson, David Carlson, Matthew Carlson, Nathan Carlson | 17.3
Knights Challenge – Most Total Weight
Mark Junker, Merik Junker, Will Muldenbach, Rev. Mike Wensing | 15.22
Pierre
Largest Walleye – Youth
Ryler Elder | 4.34 lb.
Largest Walleye – Adult
Phil Meyer | 7.24 lb.
Largest Bass – Youth
Ryler Elder | 3.20 lb.
Largest Bass – Adult
Schweiss | 3.86 lb.
Largest Other Fish
Cody Geffre | Pike: 8.46 lb.
Most Total Weight Bass – 1st place
Karl Schweiss, Greg Schweiss, Shane Severyn | 16.54 lb.
Most Total Weight Bass – 2nd place
Steve Gossman, Kira Gossman | 12.34 lb.
Most Total Weight Bass – 3rd place
Tim Burns, McCoy Meyer, Charlie Allen | 12.12 lb.
Most Total Weight Walleye – 1st place
Shelley Schipper, Brad Schipper, Brenda Boese, Thomas Clinton | 15.08 lb.
Most Total Weight Walleye – 2nd place
Kelly Geffre, Cody Geffre, Rick Geffre, Sonya Geffre | 12.26 lb.
Most Total Weight Walleye – 3rd place
Brad Saathoff, Steve Gray, Phil Meyer | 11.46 lb.
Knights Challenge – Most Total Weight
Brad Pole, Justin Allen, Jim Deis, Rev. Brian Simon | 9.72 lb.
Benefiting Seminarian Education
The Diocese of Sioux Falls currently has 10 young men discerning their call to the priesthood.
Your participation in these fishing tournaments helps fund the formation and education of these men, which on average costs $47,000 per seminarian each year. Help us reach our goal of funding 3-4 seminarians each year!
Hear from Vocations Director Fr. Michael Kapperman and Vocations Advocate Fr. Tony Klein on how seminarians are formed as they discern a call to the priesthood.
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsors
BJ Schaefbauer
Holy Spirit Parish | Sioux Falls
Diamond Sponsors
