1951 Opening Weekend

Pat Bowyer was the winner in 1951 with a 15 1/2" brook trout. Sort of. Pat had secretly arranged for Doris Mahaffy to pick him up in a car at the bridge. From there they hurried to the Luther trout ponds where Pat caught the "winner". Doris quickly returned Pat to the bridge where he waded upstream to the lodge with his winning fish. No one would have been the wiser if years later Pat hadn't told Bruce Schwarze the truth while they were alone in the tackle room sharing a bottle. Bruce, who before being told had been sworn to secrecy, immediately walked to the lodge and spilled the beans. Is this when the tackle room got the nickname "The Liar's Den"? Regardless Pat was ruled the winner and is the first known winner of the Opening Weekend Fishing Contest.

1951 Invitation

1951 Guest List

Herm & Norm Schwarze

Fred & Cleo Schwarze

Bruce & Marge Schwarze

Carl & Dorothy Hilty

Pat Bowyer

Walt & Doris Mahaffy

Bill & Mary McAlpine

Charlie Madden