IDAHO FALLS – Every fisherman loves a good fish story, and this one is 100% true. Jared Ostermiller, JC Siddoway, Cade Carter and Ben Rydalch returned to eastern Idaho last week after catching a 305-pound Blue Marlin in the 41st annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (the same contest depicted […]
BRETT FRENCH
Jared Ostermiller is willing to drive 400 miles â 11 to 12 hours from Rexburg, Idaho â just to ice fish at Fort Peck Reservoir.
Heâs not alone.
âWeâve got guys coming in from all over the place,â said Eddie Mindt, owner of the Lakeridge Lodging & Bait Shop near the small community of Fort Peck.
Why drive so far in the winter to a remote corner of northeastern Montana to ice fish?
For Ostermiller, itâs because there are few places he can catch as many different species of fish â and big ones â sometimes on the same jig and bait. Mindt, who also runs an ice-fishing guide service, said anglers are willing to drive 16 hours from the Midwest and Dakotas to catch a big lake trout through the ice because itâs something they canât do in their state. Heâs even had clients from California.