Hutchinson Teen Wins New Truck With 9.75 lb Walleye At Brained Ice Fishing Tournament

Zac Padrnos of Hutchinson holds his 9.75 lb walleye at the 2023 Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake (submitted photo)

BRAINERD, MN (KDLM) – Despite Saturday’s freezing temperatures, nearly 12,000 ice fishermen made their way to Hole In The Day Bay on Gull Lake near Brainerd for the annual Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Since 1991, the tournament has raised more than $4.5 million dollars for 75 different charities and non-profits.

The big winner on Saturday was 13-year-old Zac Padrnos of Hutchinson, who won a new Ford or GMC truck from Mills Auto Group by reeling in a 9.75 lb walleye. The next largest walleye was 5.67 lbs.

Local fisherman Curt Friedsam of Perham won $250 with a 0.59 lb. perch and Semsudin Hodzic of Fargo won $250 with a 0.43 lb, perch.

The Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza is run and organized by volunteers, including one hundred event volunteers that drilled 14,300 holes in Gull Lake in just two hours on Saturday morning. The Brainerd Jaycees invest nearly 25,000 volunteer hours in the year-long planning of the contest.