Gavins Point Dam
Gavins Point Dam is located near Yankton,
South Dakota, on the Missouri River between
the Nebraska-South Dakota border. It impounds
Lewis and Clark Lake.
T
he rules are simple. "The winner is the
fisherman who catches the largest number
of different species of fish in a defined period
of time," said John Flowers, who created the
Gavins Point Species Fishing Contest with his
fishing buddy, Rick Bevins.
Both are faculty colleagues at the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln. Seventeen years ago, after
a highly productive fishing trip on the Missouri
River, the idea for the contest was born.
"We found that to be so much fun, we have
been pursuing this activity on an annual basis
– except for the 2011 flood year," Flowers said.
Seven years ago, Gus Carlo, a former UNL
faculty member, also joined.
To date, the anglers have caught
25 different species of fish, not
including accidental snagging of
paddlefish and non-fish species
such as turtles or birds.
The most species caught
in any one contest among
the three anglers was 15
in 2012, and the most
species caught by any
single angler was 12 in
2012 by Rick Bevins.
The prize consists
of a traveling trophy
and exemption
from chipping in for
beer and pizza that
evening.
The anglers usually
hold their contest
in late spring, a
time when large
To catch as many species as possible, Carlo, Flowers
and Bevins use all the baits and lures they can acquire,
including corn, shrimp and crankbaits.
Gavins Po
South Dakota
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