BJ Sikora and David Warren of the Clay County Pheasants Forever presented a $3,500 check to the GTRA/Spencer Bulls Eyes Trap Team to cover their entry fees to the State Championship Shoot in Cedar Falls, and for two Garmin Trap Training devices. Over the last several years members of the Bulls Eyes Trap Team have assisted the Clay County Pheasants Forever at their annual fundraising event. Sixteen of the 27 Bulls Eyes live in Clay County and over half of the athletes also hunt and fish.

Gov. Kim Reynolds recently proclaimed June as Invasive Species Awareness Month in Iowa.

Invasive species, like emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spongy moth and oriental bittersweet threaten Iowa’s ecosystem by competing with and destroying native trees and disrupting the natural complex habitat system.

Remember how low the lakes were right after the ice went off? Let’s take a look back … this is the post I put on the Okoboji Protective Association’s Facebook page on March 24. “Today is Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. The weather forecast is for at least an inch of rain over the next 24 hours, along with a mix of snow and sleet. We definitely need the moisture with Big Spirit Lake 12.8 inches below the spillway and the Okobojis 3.4 inches below Lower Gar overflow.

Anglers can encounter unusual fishing conditions whenever they go fishing. These unusual conditions often make it hard to get the fish to bite. These conditions happen every year and often at predictable times, so in reality, they really aren’t that unusual. Maybe different is a better way to describe them.

As I reported on walleye fishing during the Walleye Weekend, the night fishing was outstanding with lots of big fish taken pulling crankbaits. Since that time, however, there has been an excellent daytime bite on two area lakes: Storm Lake and Tuttle Lake. Certainly, they are 90 miles apart, which means a little travel, but for the walleye fishing opportunities, they each are definitely worth the trip. First, let’s look at Storm Lake.

After suffering a shutout loss to ranked Estherville Lincoln Central Monday, Spencer fell in a shootout where the Tigers and Cherokee Braves combined for 16 runs in the first inning before battling, then suffering, a 17-12 loss. Spencer fell to 1-8 this season.

ELC 13, SPENCER 0

SPENCER — No. 3 ELC needed just four innings to generate 13 runs for the shutout win against the Tigers in Spencer Monday night.

Early week action resulted in a win and a loss for the Spencer Tigers who improved to 8-4 on the season with a narrow loss to Estherville Lincoln Central and a 10-run win after a late inning rally in Lakes Conference play.

ELC 4, SPENCER 2

Who says crime doesn’t pay?

In a pair of Twin Lakes this week over Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire and Manson-NW Webster, the Sioux Rebels stole a combined 21 bases while limiting their opponent to a single run while improving to 8-1 overall.

SIOUX CENTRAL 12, GT/RA 1

Sandwiching a pair of Twin Lakes wins around a nonconference loss to Okoboji, on Tuesday, Sioux Central hosted three games in a row in Peterson to start the week.

The Rebels would down conference rivals Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire and Manson-NW Webster to remain perfect in loop play. They are now 7-3 overall.

SIOUX CENTRAL 10, GT/RA 2

Monday, June 3 — Clay County Speedway

IMCA MODIFIED BY KICD

There is no doubt that the Iowa Great Lakes has its share of bass tournaments, pretty much every weekend. Here is one with an interesting twist: Classic Bass Champions Tour presented by Skeeter Boats. Considered by many to be the top bass fishing tournament trail in the Midwest will be holding its first regular season event of the 2024 season on Lake Okoboji on Tuesday, June 11, with its takeoff and awards spot being the Emerson Bay Boat Ramp.

SPENCER — The Spencer Community School District and city of Spencer invite the community to attend the naming ceremony for the new tennis courts at Spencer Middle School. The courts will be named after Dennis Price, founder of the Spencer High School tennis program and longtime coach. The ceremony will take place Saturday, June 8, at 2 p.m. at the new courts.

INDIANOLA — Over the weekend, Spencer freshmen Morgan Irvine and Easton Beehler, after earning multiple medalist honors with their respective Tiger squads this season, teamed to take on 65 other competitive pairs.

Irvine and Beehler placed 19th at the state coed golf meet with a score of 80 at the Indianola Country Club. The duo played alternate shot with the girls teeing off on the odd holes and boys teeing off on the even holes.

SPENCER — Following a rough week on the diamond, Spencer got back in the win column with a doubleheader sweep at Andy McGaffin Field Saturday, scoring a 7-3 and nine-inning, 8-7 victories.

“I was very happy to pick up a couple of wins on Saturday,” Spencer coach Brian Dirkx said. “It was nice to get back on the field after a couple of tough losses earlier in the week. … We were able to play a lot of boys.”

SPENCER — After three scoreless innings, Spencer’s bats woke up. North Union’s didn’t. The result, the Tigers’ first win of the season in seven games, 7-1, Thursday night at the Spencer Softball Complex. The Warriors who entered the contest 4-1.

Coach Tara Hauschen said, despite “rain off-and-on throughout the game, the girls did a great job playing through the rain and staying focused.”