As the clock struck midnight, 182 fishing pole warriors stormed the bridge in Hastings for the annual Midnight Madness Fishing Contest.
Anglers were lured down to the Hastings Bridge in the wee hours, May 19, to try their luck and almost as soon as the whistle blew, Caroline Eisnor had one on the line.
"It was like a minute later. It kept falling off the line and it took me a minute to pick it up because it kept slipping through my fingers," she said about her award-winning 15 inch walleye.
Not only did Ms. Eisnor win the prize for the first fish caught, but she also won the women's category with the same fish bringing her total winnings to $40.
"They were bitting like crazy that night," she said. "Minnow on a hook with a sinker and in it went."
Unlike other fishing derbies, no boats were allowed at Midnight Madness and people lined the bridge and the banks poles in hand, she said.
Ms. Eisnor said Midnight Madness is always a riot and this was her second year winning the contest. This year was even better because it fell on her birthday, she said.
"It was all just one big bundle of fun for my 50th this year," she said, adding to cap it off she will be making a birthday trip to the casino where she hopes to continue riding her wave of success.
Ms. Eisnor said she has loved fishing her whole life and her father taught her everything she knows.
"He taught me all the tricks and what lures to use. Dad was my inspiration and I have to thank him for giving me the right tools to catch what I needed," she said.
Hastings Historical Society past president Tony Tuit said it was the sixth year for the contest and it has really become a big event for Hastings.
There never was any organized event for the opening of the fishing season so six years ago they decided to try Midnight Madness, he said.
"It just sprung to life," he said.
Mr. Tuit said other winners included Kyle West and Kenny Ono and the whole contest was done by 12:30 a.m., marking another great year for the contest and the Hastings Historical Society.
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