Hahn Family Nets $10,000 Fish in Salmon Tournament
Dexter, Missouri - Mark Twain said, “Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish!” A local Dexter family has a whopper of a fish story to tell!
Brad Hahn of Dexter, Missouri was fishing with his brother Mark on a 21-foot Bayliner Trophy working their magic in the vicinity of Cana Island on Lake Michigan. Brad’s son Eric, age 14, and Mark’s son Joseph, age 15, were also fishing in the Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament.
Nothing seemed to be biting and the day was getting away from them. A few tunes on the radio, some dance moves, and even idle chit-chat didn’t seem to entice the fish into the boat! Even a few stares at the line and a little prayer, but nothing seemed to get the fish biting until……..
In one fail swoop, Brad yelled, “fish!” and handed the rod to Eric who handed it to Mark who handed it to Joseph. It was like a hot potato, but with a little teamwork the Hahn family knew they had to the monster fish in the boat quickly.
From there, a fish tale of immense proportions grew out of the lake. Within 10 minutes they had the fish in the boat weighing in at 31.41 pounds and 40 inches long.
The fish was winner. Weighing more than six pounds than second place earned Team Hahn a $10,000 cash prize, a free mount of the winning fish, and a custom-made salmon ring!
A record 2,974 tickets were sold at the 33rd Annual Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament. They paid out more than $50,000 in cash and prizes going down 157 spots to a 17.13 pounder.
The Hahn family said their path to the winner started in 1979 when their dad read an article about Door County salmon fishing in a Field & Stream magazine.
Cousins Joseph and Eric Hahn are pictured with the winning catch. Others who attended the family reunion/fishing tournament were Brad Hahn and son Eric of Dexter, Missouri; Mark Hahn and son Joseph of Carlsbad, California; Paul Hahn of Los Angeles, California; and Neil Hahn of Fenton, Missouri.
The Hahns are originally from Minnesota and fishing on Lake Michigan just part of growing up! They return annually to fish in the tournament, but this year will go down in the history books as one of the best experiences on the lake!
Date: August 05th 2015
