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Cabela’s can’t confirm CdA fish tagged for sweepstakes

Check out those Sprague Lake rainbows carefully through July 14, 2011. Some fish in the lake have a Cabela's tag worth valuable prizes. (Rich Landers)
Check out those Sprague Lake rainbows carefully through July 14, 2011. Some fish in the lake have a Cabela's tag worth valuable prizes. (Rich Landers)

FISHING -- A day of fishing is never wasted, but perhaps there was no reason for anglers to get their hopes too high for catching a $1 million fish since the weekend in Lake Coeur d'Alene. At least not yet.

On Friday, Cabela's announced the Saturday opening of a "Wanna Go Fishing for Millions?" promotion involving tagged fish in 19 states including Lake Coeur d'Alene in North Idaho and Sprague and Potholes in Eastern Washington.

However, Cabela's officials would not confirm this afternoon that any fish had been caught, tagged and released in Lake Coeur d'Alene.

"I can assure you a number of fish are going to be tagged now or in the next day or two," said Ron Brekhus, general manager of the Post Falls store.

Jim Fredericks, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional fisheries manager, said he could not confirm that any fish had been tagged. However, he said the agency had received a request this week to help Cabela's tag some smallmouth bass.

John Whalen, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department regional fisheries manager said state fisheries biologists had inserted Cabela's tags into rainbows and largemouth bass last week in Sprague Lake and Potholes Reservoir.

More than 60,000 people have registered online to participate in trying to catch about 1,000 tagged fish in 67 waters in 19 states for prizes.

The goal is to encourage more people to enjoy the great outdoors, Cabela's officials said.

Register online to qualify for the prizes should you catch a tagged fish. Read on for more details.

Meantime, Cabela's officials said they would contact me to let you know when they could confirm that tagged fish have been released in Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Cabela's, partnering with the Outdoor Channel, has just announced that Sprague Lake and Potholes Reservoir in Washington and Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho will be among the waters that might have tagged fish anglers can turn in for valuable prizes -- including a grand prize of up to $2.2 million -- in the company's "Wanna Go Fishing for Millions?' promotion.

At least one fish is worth $1 million, but an angler can more than double the prize by catching the fish while using gear from contest sponsors including an Abu Garcia reel spooled with Berkley line, Costa sunglasses and Sperry Top-Sider shoes.

Cabela’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary by offering a $10,000 shopping spree to the angler who redeems the 50th tag.

Additional prizes are designated for the first tag redeemed in each participating state.

Following is a list of all waters Cabela's said would receive tagged fishing for the promotion.

Arizona

Lake Pleasant

Theodore Roosevelt Lake

Patagonia Lake

Colorado

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Pueblo Reservoir

Connecticut

Highland Lake

Connecticut River

Mashapaug Lake

Idaho

C.J. Strike Reservoir

Lucky Peak Reservoir

Lake Coeur d’Alene

Illinois

Chain O’ Lakes

Rend Lake

Carlyle Lake

Indiana

Patoka Lake

Monroe Lake

Brookville Lake

Kansas

Milford Reservoir

Glen Elder Reservoir

Cheney Reservoir

Clinton Reservoir

Kanopolis Reservoir

El Dorado Reservoir

Cedar Bluff Reservoir

Hillsdale Reservoir

Louisiana

Toledo Bend Reservoir

Lake Cataouatche

Bayou D’Arbonne Lake

Chicot Lake

Michigan

Pontiac Lake

Belleville Lake

Wamplers Lake

Maine

Cobbosseecontee Lake

Long Lake

Nevada

Lake Mead

South Fork Reservoir

Oregon

Detroit Lake

Hagg Lake

Pennsylvania

Presque Isle Bay

Lake Wallenpaupack

Raystown Lake

Penns Creek

Lake Arthur

Emsworth Pool

Lake Nockamixon

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake

South Dakota

Lake Sharpe

Lake Madison

Pactola Reservoir

Texas

Lake Nasworthy

Canyon Lake

Eagle Mountain Lake

Lake Fork Reservoir

Lake Travis

Lake Ray Roberts

Utah

East Canyon Reservoir

Starvation Reservoir

Lake Powell

Washington

Lake Washington

Potholes Reservoir

American Lake

Sprague Lake

West Virginia

R.D. Bailey Lake

Burnsville Lake

Tygart Lake

Wisconsin

Lake Winnebago

Madison Chain



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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