Staff photos/Rhonda Silence Fantastic Fish Toss effort! David Bergstrom of Grand Marais did not win the Fish Toss Contest, but he gave his all to catch a herring!
One of the ultimate Fisherman’s Picnic events is the Fish Toss, which is held on the last day of the Picnic. Folks from far and wide gather on Wisconsin Street to watch contestants vie for the title of champion herring tossers.
The 2009 event had a record number of participants, keeping Sid Backlund and David Eckel of Sven & Ole’s Pizza busy. There was also lots of excitement, with bystanders like Nancy Strayer being hit by flying fish and an errant toss landing on the roof of The Attic. Seagulls got in the action and there was a brief fish toss battle between the birds.
The competition for the prizes for the Fish Toss (gift certificates for pizza at Sven & Ole’s) was fierce, with numerous returning champions trying to regain bragging rights. The 2007 women’s Fish Toss champs Sara Hahnfeldt of St. Anthony and Gayle Goben of New Brighton came with their cheering squad. They were successful in once again claiming the women’s Fish Toss championship.
The winners of the Men’s Fish Toss were Ben Madison of Columbia Heights and Tofte, and John Grivna, of Coon Rapids and Tofte, who delighted the crowd with their antics. In appreciation to the Fish Toss sponsors, they adorned their bellies with Sven & Ole’s bumper stickers. The duo had a serious side though—after the match they tearfully declared that the win was for their friend, Shane Fors, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Stuart and Cindy Skrien of the Twin Cities were not able to recapture their first place Fish Toss finish in the mixed category. They were bumped out by Grand Marais youths C.C. Schnobrich and Lars Scannell. However, Cindy once again impressed the crowd with her over-the-head catching style.
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