50th Annual Tip Up Town winners

Pictured are, from left, the youth’s first place winners,  Jason Harwath first place in both Bluegill and Crappie, Abigail Quinnell in Northern Pike and Macy Trulock in Perch.

SAGOLA - The Sagola Township Sportsmens Club hosted their 50th annual Tip UP Town of the UP event on Feb. 3. Anglers from around the area were treated to 40 plus degree temperatures and clear skies. All attendees exercised caution while on the ice after unseasonably warm temperatures for the days up to the event made ice thicknesses uncertain. 

There were two divisions, adult and youth, and five different categories in each division. The five categories of sought after fish were: Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. The top three adult anglers were awarded cash prizes in each category. The top five youth in each category were awarded a “prize bucket” with numerous hunting and fishing prizes inside. The “prize buckets” and the prizes within them were donated by the many sponsors of the event. 

In the adult Perch category it was Kenny Pekarek in third place with his 8-7/8”, Andrew Hartwig in second with 9-3/8” and Caroline Adams in first place with her 9-3/4”. The Adult Crappie category had Tyler Bonin taking third with his 10”, Andrew Hartwig second with 12-1/4” and Nick Harwath earning first place with his 13-1/2”. The Bluegill adult category had April Harwath’s fish earning third place with 8-3/8” and Andrew Hartwig taking home both first and second place with his 9” and 9-1/8” Bluegills respectively. The Northern Pike category brought in some monster size fish. Jason Morgan brought in the third place Pike measuring 33-5/8” Andrew Hartwigs 34” Pike was good enough for second place and first place was Wade Holsworth with a whopping 35” Northern Pike. There was only one Walleye caught in the entire derby. Andrew Hartwig brought in a 26” Walleye to earn the championship title in that category. That made a total of six top three finishes for Andrew Hartwig for the 2024 Tip UP Town Event. 

The youth division for Crappie had Eli Morgan in fifth, Jordan Bray taking fourth, Caleb Morgan third, and Jordan Bray second. The Youth Crappie champion was Jason Harwath with his 13-7/8” Crappie. Youth division, Perch category had Jordan Bray fifth, Gram Hartwig fourth, Jonah Caruso third and Sammy Caruso second. Earning first place in the Perch category was Macy Trulock with her 10-3/8” Perch. The Youth Bluegill category had Jackson Painter fifth, Brooklyn Gustafson fourth, and Gram Hartwig earning both third and second places. Jason Harwath brought in the top Bluegill measuring 8-3/8” in length. The youth division, Northern Pike category had Mia Fedrizzi fifth, Jack Holsworth fourth, Gram Hartwig third and Landon Jackson second. Bringing in an absolute monster Northern Pike was Abigail Quinnell. Her first place Pike measured 34-1/2” in length. No youth entered any Walleye in that category. 

The Sagola Township Sportsmens Club would like to thank the many members that made this event possible. They would also like to thank the many sponsors that have supported this event through monetary or prize donations. 
Tip UP Town of the UP is held annually on the first Saturday of February. (Photos by Alex Erickson)