31st Annual Bishop’s Fishing Tournaments
Save the Date!
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. All proceeds benefit seminarian education and formation in the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Benefiting Seminarian Education
There are currently 15 young men who are 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!
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
Big Stone Tournament Results
Largest Walleye | Youth
Cecilia VanDover
3.97 lb.
Largest Walleye | Adult
Bill Welder
6.07 lb.
Largest Bass | Youth
Nathan Fonder
4.09 lb.
Largest Bass | Adult
Brendan Logan
4.36 lb.
Largest Other Fish
Will Pekelder – Sheephead
5.93 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 1st Place
Nathan Fonder, Nicholas Fonder, Trevor Greiner, Will Pekelder
19.92 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 2nd Place
Brendan Logan, Mark VanDover, Mark VanDover
17.63 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 3rd Place
Mark Junker, Meredith Junker, Merik Junker
16.16 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 1st Place
Dan Loehrer, Kent Pryzbecien, Bill Welder, Clayton Whiting
17.88 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 2nd Place
Todd Cloose, Tim Giese, Adam Thomas
13.75 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 3rd Place
Dave Cloos, Mike Rausch, Val Rausch
13.57 lb.
Most Total Weight | Knights of Columbus Challenge
Dan Loehrer, Kent Pryzbecien, Bill Welder, Clayton Whiting
17.88 lb.
Pierre Tournament Results
Largest Walleye | Youth
Cash Robling
2.22 lb.
Largest Walleye | Adult
Holly Robling
4.70 lb.
Largest Bass | Youth
Sawyer Robling
3.36 lb.
Largest Bass | Adult
Jefferson Lehman
4.02 lb.
Largest Other Fish
Tony Robling – Pike
6.42 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 1st Place
Josiah Hanson, Greg Schweiss, Karl Schweiss, Jenna Severyn
13.40 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 2nd Place
Jefferson Lehman
12.14 lb.
Most Total Weight | Bass – 3rd Place
Cash Robling, Holly Robling, Kevin Robling, Sawyer Robling, Tony Robling
11.46 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 1st Place
Mara Hermiston, Kevin Post, Brad Saathoff, Steve Tappe
15.92 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 2nd Place
Charlie Allen, Justin Allen, Brad Pole
10.88 lb.
Most Total Weight | Walleye – 3rd Place
Butch Ableseth, Cade Feickert, Cole Feickert, Corbin Feickert, Roger Feickert
9.98 lb.
Most Total Weight | Knights of Columbus Challenge: Diocese of Sioux Falls
Fr. Joe Holzhauser, Chuck Nedved, Joyce Nedved, Gary Soden
7.20 lb.
Most Total Weight | Knights of Columbus Challenge: Diocese of Rapid City
Terence deMesmay, Jonathan Hoffer, Jim Weaver, Tyler Weaver
7.92 lb.
Benefiting Seminarian Education
The Diocese of Sioux Falls currently has 16 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 2025 Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsors
Holy Spirit Parish
Sioux Falls
BJ
Schaefbauer
Diamond Sponsors
Sacred Heart Parish | Aberdeen
St. Mary Parish | Aberdeen
St. Lawrence Parish | Milbank
St. Nicholas Parish | Tea
Platinum Sponsors
Bret & Connie Batchelder | Fort Pierre
Galen & Ann Jordre | Pierre
Knights of Columbus Council #1720 | Milbank
Midwest Liquid Feed | Wood
Sacred Heart Parish | Westport
St. Charles Parish | Big Stone City
Joan Reiffenberger | Big Stone City
Greg & Melissa Schweiss | Rapid City
Judy & Mike Weisgram | Fort Pierre
Donald & Peggy Zilverberg | Holabird
Gold Sponsors
Gerald Adelman | Big Stone City
Jim Atkinson | Lewis Center, OH
Century Glass Company – Mike & Debbie Johnson | Rapid City
Denny Christian | Blunt
Christian Mothers Confraternity of St. Joseph | Eureka
Family Memorials by Gibson | Sioux Falls
Jeff & Kristi Forsting | Columbia
Mark & Meredith Junker | Big Stone City
KT Connections | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus #8844 – Blessed Sacrament | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus #703 | Lead
Legacy Financial Partners of Ameriprise Financial | Spearfish
Roger & Marcia Liebig | Gettysburg
Pete & Nancy Lien | Rapid City
Our Lady of Victory Pastorate | Sioux Falls, Hartford
Prairie ATV & Cycle, LLC – G.M. & Mary Elder | Fort Pierre
Alan Pratt | Big Stone City
Stu & Karen Schreurs | Milbank
Annette Schweiss | Rapid City
Larry & Joyce Vetch | Onaka
Travis & Tami Vetch | Mobridge
Silver Sponsors
Don & Gloria Beaner Family Memorial | Parker
Phillip & Pam Carlson – Knights of Columbus Insurance | Brookings
Catholic Daughters | Miller
Noel & Teresa Chicoine | Pierre
Shawn & Julie Cleary | Sioux Falls
Fred & Joan DeRouchey | Mitchell
Kevin & Jan Feterl | Sioux Falls
Dcn. Jim & Ellen Hulm | Timber Lake
Jim & Lisa Kinyon | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus #1075 – Bishop Lawler Assembly | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus #1489 – Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus #2705 | Lemon
Knights of Columbus #4133 | Sisseton
Knights of Columbus #4814 | Miller
Knights of Columbus #5841 | Martin
Knights of Columbus #8025 – St. Therese | Rapid City
Knights of Columbus Maher Council | Mitchell
Knights of Columbus | Mobridge
Rich & Cindy Korman | Sioux Falls
Barry & Patty Lammers | Hartford
Mel’s Auto Body Inc. – Kevin & Linda Rohrbach | Rapid City
Mike Oakland | Pierre
Sacred Heart Parish | Eden
St. Anthony Parish | Buffalo
Real Presence Radio
Roman & Carol Taffe | Big Stone City
Bronze Sponsors
First Interstate Bank | Rapid City
Cody & Kelly Geffre | Pierre
Grossenburg Cattle Co Inc. – Barry Grossenburg | Winner
Knights of Columbus #6537 | Eagle Butte, Dupree, Faith
Diane London | Pierre
Vivian Monroe | Fort Pierre
Steve & Jeanette Morris | Pierre
Charles & Joyce Nedved | Kimball
Jay & Jean Peterson | Pierre
Eugene & Barbara Schaefer | Rapid City
Dennis & Joyce Williams | Pierre
Donors
Joseph & Laurie Anglin | Spearfish
B&B AgLines LLC – Mark & Laura Beaner | Salem
Beadle Ford – Bob & Judie Beadle | Bowdle
Mark & Jeanie Conzemius | Sioux Falls
David & Deanna Emery | Rapid City
Rod & Gogie Enstad | Rapid City
John & Theresa Giesen | Rochester, MN
Eileen Herrin | Pierre
Paul Jackson | Big Stone City
Knights of Columbus #1532 | Gregory
Knights of Columbus #820 | Aberdeen
Knights of Columbus #6341 | Sturgis
Mike & Lois Lacey | Trent
James Meyer | Revillo
Mike & Janice Mullin | Watertown
Drew Nafus | Pierre
Timber Lake NAPA | Timber Lake
In-Kind Donors
Chris & Laurie Batchelor | Milbank
Berens Market | Milbank
Big Stone Radio – KMSD/KDIO | Big Stone City
Cabela’s | Mitchell
Coca-Cola – Chesterman Bottling Co. | Sioux Falls & Pierre
Culligan of Sioux Falls | Sioux Falls
Michael Czmowski | Sioux Falls
Tim & Patty Czmowski | Sioux Falls
Dave’s Marine | Webster
Guadalajara Restaurant – Sidney Zanin | Pierre
Hartman’s SuperValu Foods, Inc. | Ortonville, MN
Kirsch Family | White Lake
Knights of Columbus | Milbank
Lou’s Greenhouse & Nursery | Big Stone City
Joe & Teresa Livermont | Sioux Falls
Monty Miller | Sioux Falls
Perkins Restaurant | Fort Pierre
Rausch Granite Monuments | Big Stone City
Mike Rounds | Pierre
Tom Rounds | Pierre
Curtis & Susan Samson | Eden
Brandei Schaefbauer | Aberdeen
Serra Club | Watertown
TC Tent Rental – Todd & Candee Cloos | Big Stone City
The Abbey of the Hills | Marvin
Greg Thomas – Backdoor BBQ | Milbank
