Cops-n-Bobbers ’23 breaks records — again

By Brandi Makuski

Lake Pacawa Park was filled with families on June 3, as a record number of participants turned out for the annual Cops-n-Bobbers event.

The Saturday weather peaked at 91 degrees with a mild breeze and not a cloud in the sky, though the tournament-style catch-and-release finished before noon.

“So I think we’ll miss the worst of the heat,” said co-organizer Seth Pionke, an officer with the Plover Police Department.

It’s the 14th year that Pionke, along with Portage Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Koepsell, has organized the affair, which invites families to take advantage of the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resource’s free fishing weekend, and in the process, have some positive interaction with local law enforcement, and a free lunch provided by the Stevens Point Elks Lodge 641.

Stevens Point Officer Jordan Nissen also helped plan this year’s event.

But it’s the first year that the event has been held anywhere other than Bukolt Park in Stevens Point. Pionke said the event was moved to the Plover park for a number of reasons, including more space to spread out and more parking.

“And there are no cars driving through where all these kids are running; safety is huge,” Pionke said.  “We’ve got a lot of door prizes to give out; this year’s sponsors were very, very gracious.”

Pionke said over 400 signed up — more than 220 were kids — this year. By comparison, 205 kids and 189 parents or guardians were registered for 2022, and 176 were registered in 2021.

“And, I think we had some people just show up,” Pionke said. “But they’re catching fish,” he added, pointing to the southeast corner of Lake Pacawa that many in attendance considered as a “secret spot”

Sheriff Mike Lukas, who was in full uniform to interact with families, said he’d seen “some dandies,” including a five-pound northern, some “big bass,” and some successful kayakers who brought in some fish.

About 30 volunteers, including Elks members, off-duty officers, and family members, helped operate the event. Several on-duty law enforcement officers from Portage Co., Stevens Point, Plover, UW-Stevens Point, and the Wisconsin DNR also stopped by to help kids drown a worm.