Mia Luthardt seemed to enjoy her first Glen Arbor chili cook-off Saturday, although the chili itself was a little rough for her.
JULIE HIGHFIELD’S third-place perch is measured by Ed Love before a big crowd gathered in Glen Arbor on Saturday.
But don’t blame the chili. At 8-months-old, she’s just started taking in solids.

Her father, Eric Luthardt of Maple City, was consuming chili — with positive results.

“Actually, I like it a lot better this year. In past years, they have tried to get too fancy,” said Luthardt.

Chili and perch worked in tandem to draw a large mid-winter crowd to Glen Arbor for the annual cook-off and fishing contest that highlights President’s Day weekend for seasonal and full-time residents.

Kim Miller from Lansing was up with friends and family, staying at her home on Glen Lake to take advantage of the three-day weekend.

“I like chili and I thought it would be nice to come into town, and be a part of the community events,” she said. Having made a donation to the Glen Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, she was “beaded” by Art’s Bar owner Tim Barr at the entrance table leading to the cook-off.

“The crowd is great,” said Bill Thompson, past Chamber member who was also helping out. “It’s at least as many people as past years, and it’s just fun. People having a good time.”
A BIG CROWD filled the deck at Boone Docks to sample 18 different kinds of chili provided by 15 entrants.
Chili tasters seemed unfazed by temperatures in the mid 20s as they crowded onto the deck at the Boone Docks, working from booth to booth. In all, 18 different types of chili were dished out by representatives of 15 different entrants. They were split between “traditional” and “non-traditional” categories.

Anderson’s Market represented by Kathy Nicolaou took top honors in the traditional contest with her “Hearts on Fire” chili. Second place was earned by the Glen Lake Schools’ “Laker Three Bean” chili. In the non-traditional category, Riverfront Pizza represented by Sue Nichols and friends was the champion with a “Chicken Tortilla” chili. La Becasse Restaurant came in second with its ethnic “French Mex” offering.

Riverfront Pizza was one of three new contest entries this year: Mabel-Ann’s, Greg Halik and a very last-minute group from Chicago under the name of the Dunn House — all are members of the extended Dunn Family.
OFFICIAL FISH measurer Ed Love prepares to determine the length of a plump perch at the scorer’s bench.
Some 620 chili tasters judged the contest, up from 560 in 2009.

It was a big event on several fronts — more people eating chili, more people fishing, and even bigger fish.

The first 14-inch perch in the long-standing contest was brought in, earning Jerry Hodge a record $655. The prizes were bigger because 131 people paid $10 each to enter, up from 68 people a year ago and a record for entries. All funds taken in for the perch contest are given out in prizes.

Bob Smith, owner of The Sportsman Shop in Glen Arbor and sponsor of the tournament, said the sizes of perch brought in for measuring were bigger than any past tournament. A “weigh-off” was needed to determine second place as Greg Warnes and Julie Highfield both caught 13 3/4-inch perch. Rick Damore was fourth at 13 1/2 inches.
TIM BARR of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce offers beads to Kim Miller of Lansing and Glen Lake. Barr is the owner of Art’s Tavern of Glen Arbor.
The larger fish came from big Glen Lake, which had only been frozen over for about two weeks.

Paul Blome of Indian River came close to placing with a 13 3/8-inch beauty. He said a group of about 40 ice anglers fishing off Inspiration Point shared the same type of luck, recording several schools of big perch that wouldn’t bite.

Consequently, trophy perch were entered, but few if any messes of perch caught.

“It was slow, slow, slow,” said Blome, who has entered several Glen Lake perch contests before. “We had about 10 fish between the eight guys in our group.”

He used an underwater camera in about 30 feet of water to watch perch eye his minnow, then move off. “It was frustrating to see them. They just wouldn’t bite.”

Alex Wiesen, who was nursing a long scrape on his face, may have had the best fish story of the day. He had coaxed a lake trout that went more than 20 inches nearly out of his ice hole only to have it come unhooked.

“I got slapped in the face with a fish,” he said. Wiesen and the trout, which escaped, both survived.

Bonnie Nescot from the Glen Lake Chamber called the day a success. She said gross proceeds from the chili contest were more than $5,000. After expenses are deducted, funds will be used for scholarships to Glen Lake High School seniors.

“A pretty good day,” said Nescot.
JOEY FOSMORE, who attends Glen Lake Elementary, brought in two perch for measuring that were both bigger than 12 inches. The scale had to settle before a second place winner could be declared in the perch contest. Taking interest in the outcome are (from left) contest sponsor Bob Smith, measurer Ed Love, and contestants Julie Highfield and Greg Warnes. EIGHT-MONTH-OLD Mia Luthardt from Maple City enjoys the chili cook-off safely in the wraps of her father, Eric. Her mother, Sandy, was working at The Homestead Resort and could not attend.