“Donations are also made to the families of sick children in the area,” said co-organizer of the tournament, Larry Grieg.

Grieg and his wife, Diane, started the tournament in 2005. They are both well aware of how cancer affects an individual and their family. 

“We wanted the money to ‘stay’ in the county and help those fighting this dreaded disease,” said Diane.

The excitement actually starts with the Keweenaw Chevrolet Pre-Tourney on Friday night. Those that registered get together at the Ontonagon Harbor Pavilion this morning for the pre-tournament. The Pre-Tourney Largest lake trout wins $200.00.

Skip Schulz/For the Gazette The Ontonagon Lake Trout Fishing Classic Tournament is this weekend. Pictured are winners from a previous tournament (from left to right): Wayne Giesau, Paul Luoka, Aaron Dean.

In the 17 years that the tourney has been going on, the Greigs have seen the tournament grow to where the next “generation” in a family is participating. 

“Years ago, the parents brought their children along to participate. Now those children are in the tourney,” said Larry. “(And) mom is having as much fun!”

Three-lady teams, some up to six in a boat, are in the Powder Puff Tourney. The women join the men at 5:30 a.m. Friday for the captains meeting.

Those that entered the tourney can win cash prizes in different ways. Each boat will enter their three largest lake trout each day, to be documented as a total weight per day. The weights of the entered lake trout will be documented and totaled each day. The first place prize will be awarded to the team with the heaviest combined two-day weight.

Entrants can also win by bringing in the largest fish in the following; lake trout, steel head, ladies largest lake trout, coho, king salmon, and brown.

Organizers, with help from many sponsors, attracts numbers of fishing enthusiasts to Ontonagon for top prize money.

“The best part is how the Aspirus-Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic helps the Ontonagon County Cancer Association  provide money to those to help pay for what insurance does not cover,” said Larry. 

“The (Ontonagon County Cancer) association also sponsors free mammograms for women and PSA tests for men on alternating years,” Diane said.

The tournament also helps draw in tourism with many coming to participate in the tourney coming from outside the area. They end up investing in motel rooms, food, and other travel expenses.

As a board member of the Upper Peninsula Sport Fisherman’s Association (UPSFA), the Greigs are proud of the UPSFA’s work on fish plants and habitat improvement. The volunteers of the UPSFA also work closely with the Ottawa National Forest, Michigan DNR, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourney was cancelled last year. Everyone seems excited to return to the water this weekend.

“It is great to see all the fishermen back,” Diane said. “They are excited to be back, and our community is also happy to see them back.”

The Greigs have Greig’s Taxidermy & Alpine Archery Pro Shop, and they want to thank all the businesses that are sponsors of this weekend’s Aspirus-Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic Fishing Tournament.