Bundled visitors packed the dock at Boonedocks in Glen Arbor Saturday under a crystal clear blue sky, sampling steaming cups of chili during Glen Arbor’s Winterfest.
While the chili cooked in town, ice fishing contestants tested their patience and luck trying to catch the biggest perch of the day. About 80 anglers competed in the ice fishing contest and at 1 p.m. they all gathered for the fish weigh-in.
Bob Smith, organizing alongside Ed Love, called names and measured each fish against a tabletop ruler as participants leaned in to watch. Later, Smith addressed the lively crowd from a ladder on Boonedocks’ deck calling Winterfest “The best day of the winter by far.”
Before naming the winner, Smith announced that the tournament will now be named the Ken Fosmore Memorial Fishing Tournament, honoring the longtime Glen Lake angler who passed away last summer.
“We lost a real legend this last year, a real friend to everybody. Nobody, in my opinion, loved ice fishing on Glen Lake more than Ken Fosmore,” Smith said.
Half the $1,200 proceeds from the fishing tournament will go to the Glen Lake Scholarships Fund. The top four fish prizes included $600 for first place, $360 for second, $240 for third, and a $50 gift certificate to Art’s Tavern for fourth.
The largest perch of the day, a 14 ⅛ inch monster earned 26 year tournament veteran Paul Blome first place. Nick Rice, a Glen Lake graduate visiting from Colorado, took second with a 13 5/16 inch yellowbelly out of Big Glen. Madeline Carrol, from Traverse City, claimed third with a 12 ⅞ inch perch caught in Little Glen, and Ron McNeal rounded out the top four with a 12 ¾ inch perch caught off the Narrows Bridge.
On the deck chili competitors lined the perimeter, offering samples to festivalgoers. Each attendee was given a ballot slip in order to vote on the best chili from 12-3 p.m. After the ballots were counted, attendees packed inside Boonedocks for the announcement of winners. Chili #9, The Lucky 7’s, took first place. “We are just a couple of guys who like to drink beer and eat chili and make fun of each other and love to be up at Glen Lake,” joked team member Jay Ofield.
“There’s nine different kinds of meat, a hundred different kinds of ingredients, it’s the best chili you’ll ever taste in your whole life,” Mark DeKorne said.
As they accepted their plaque, Ofield shared their story.
“This recipe is something that we took from a really good friend who died about four years ago. He loved chili, he loved people… All we’ve done is move forward what he’s all about, which is this,” he said, gesturing to the crowd and restaurant.
Crystal River Outfitters District took second, and host Boonedocks placed third. Despite midwinter temperatures, the festival’s energy remained warm. Families and friends mingled, sharing bowls of chili and catching up over drinks. It was a quintessential “up north” day.
