Fishing, football, fun
Packers, Vikings fans watch OT tie from Mississippi River
LA CROSSE – Packers fans watched Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field, at sports bars and taverns throughout the state and from their couches, but some caught the overtime tie on the Mississippi River while tending their fishing lines next to Vikings fans.
Elwyn Beane arrived at the Best Dam Fish Float next to Lock and Dam No. 7 in the Wisconsin portion of the Mississippi at 9 a.m. hoping to hook a few walleyes. He hadn’t caught any by kickoff so he sat at a table inside the bait shop, nursing a lemon-lime-flavored Gatorade and gazing at a 55-inch TV high on the wall above ceramic canisters shaped like bluegill, crappie and catfish.
“I always watch the Packer game wherever I am,” said Beane, who is retired and figures he spends more than 100 days on the Best Dam Fish Float each season.
Though there were quite a few Packers and Vikings fans on the fish float Sunday, considering Vikings territory was just across the river, there was no rancor among folks no matter their gridiron allegiance. And they were treated to a good game that finished in a 29-29 tie after the extra period.
They were anglers first and foremost, brought together on the floating platform by their shared love for the pursuit of catfish, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and bluegills. Or whatever deigned to bite their line.
And for hard-core fishing enthusiasts who also happen to be football fans, it is the best of both worlds. Pulling up northerns and walleyes on a beautiful, sun-dappled day while catching action on the widescreen during breaks.
Anglers paid $20 for a visit to the fish float, parking at a lot near the lock and dam and catching a ride on Tom Rieple’s pontoon. Rieple’s brother John
owns the float and Tom Rieple manages it. Tom Rieple is a Packers fan and he’s not quiet about it.
People fishing out on the float knew each time Green Bay scored because Tom Rieple shouted out the good news, sometimes using a megaphone to make sure Vikings fans checking their lines knew their team was losing.
A few minutes before the game started, Tom Rieple pointed to regulars inside the bait shop and said, “If the Vikings are winning, they’ll be in here to razz me all day. And if the Vikings are losing, they’ll be outside with their fishing lines.”
Kirk Olson of Austin, Minnesota, came to La Crosse to travel on an Honor Flight on Saturday — he’s a Vietnam veteran — and packed his fishing gear so he could stop at the Best Dam Fish Float on Sunday.
“I just enjoy coming out here. I don’t have to worry about putting a boat in the water,” said Olson, who brought a Vikings purple towel on Sunday. “I love to watch the Vikings more when they’re playing the Bears and the Packers.”
Inside the bait shop, Lisa Tisher, Tom Rieple’s daughter, stood behind a counter dispensing sinkers, potato chips, cans of Coke and Pepsi, lunkers, hamburgers, jigs, bobbers, hot dogs, fishing line and Italian sausage. Shortly before halftime, Tisher set out tailgate food on top of a Packers tablecloth — taco salad, chips and dip, a vegetable plate and cupcakes adorned with green and gold sprinkles.
Stuck to the front of the refrigerator were magnetic schedules for both the Packers and Vikings.
“If you notice the Vikings schedule is below the Packers schedule,” said Tisher, who was born in La Crosse and is a Packers fan.
Tisher comes from a mixed family — her father is a Packers fan and her mother cheers for the Vikings. Julianna Rieple colored her blonde hair with purple streaks and wore a purple “Vikes” T-shirt. She held her daughter’s 15-week-old son, Jayden, while watching the game.
“I wanted to buy him a Vikings T-shirt and my daughter said ‘no, you’re not,’” said Julianna Rieple.
A fish float has been on this stretch of the Mississippi River for at least 75 years. John Rieple purchased a floating dock from his brother-in-law and he and his brother built a new structure on top of plastic floats. It opened in 2010. It’s open 220 days straight, from March until Oct. 31.
Clientele includes regulars and others who learn about it from the Facebook page.
From the Best Dam Fish Float, anglers can catch 20 different species that call this stretch of the Mississippi River home. All Packers games are shown on the satellite TV operated by a generator.
Max Mallory left his home in the Twin Cities at 5 a.m. to arrive by 7 armed with his fishing pole and tackle. Despite a heated matchup between the two NFC Central teams, the Vikings fan was more intent on the fish.
“You set your line and sit; it’s really relaxing and enjoyable,” said Mallory, whose favorite Vikings player is Stefon Diggs. He’s excited about the upcoming season and holds out hopes Minnesota will have a good year.
“Packers fans have had a good long run. Now it’s our turn. Watch out,” said Mallory, who was fishing for sturgeon, catfish “or anything that bites.”
Ken Buchholz of La Crosse wore a 2011 Packers Super Bowl victory T-shirt as he pulled in seven bluegill from the root beer-colored water before the fishing slacked off. He sat facing the lock and dam and didn’t bother to go inside to check the score.
“I figured I’d listen for Tom — if he’s shouting, they’re doing good and if he’s growling, they’re not,” said Buchholz.
When Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an interception with two minutes left in the game, Tom Rieple shouted and ran out of the bait shop. Waving his hands in the air, he hollered to anglers — “Mr. Cousins just threw an interception to us!”