Fish tales will be told after Monday, June 9. That is when the Dioceses of Sioux Falls and Rapid City will team up for the 2025 Bishop’s Fishing Tournament & Dinner. The competition will be held on the neutral “turf” of the Missouri River near Pierre and the official boundary between the competitors. All entry fees from the western side of the riverbank will go 100% to seminarian education for the Rapid City Diocese.

Those who wish to get in on the fun, but not drop a hook in the water, can attend the 3:30 p.m. Mass. Following the Mass, there are pre-purchase tickets for the social hour and outdoor prime rib dinner. Last year’s tournament drew more than 350 people to the boat launch south of Pierre.

In past years various smaller fishing tournaments have been held in this diocese. Last spring, when Jim Kinyon took over as Executive Director of the Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation he learned he needed to put together a fishing tournament in June. With no experience setting up sporting events, he turned to the Sioux Falls Catholic Foundation for help. “Sioux Falls graciously let us jump on board their event,” he said.

In this year’s rematch, Kinyon is working with Fr. Mark McCormick, Diocesan Vocations director to make a bigger splash this year. “I’m in it for the competition,” said Fr. Mark, whose catch last year didn’t quite float up to the top of the winner’s circle.

Kinyon pleaded, “I need a professional guide to get Fr. Mark in a boat. If you know the Pierre area PLEASE call. Fr. Mark needs some help. Then, if we could get a couple ladies from the Altar Society to put on some scuba gear and put fish on the hook that would help, too.”

“I’m ready to pull in a lunker,” Fr. Mark said, wading up to the challenge.

Six seminarians are expected to compete for Rapid City. Kinyon is looking for six boaters to each take one seminarian aboard, and host families to house the seminarians.

According to Kinyon the price of educating a seminarian is about $45,000 per year. The tournament is only one of three events sponsored to help with the costs. In 2024 this fishing tournament netted $39,356. The WSDCF is looking to top the amount this year. 

Click here to get a boatload of details on the tourney schedule, entry fees, award divisions, raffle tickets, silent auction, and sponsorship opportunities. There is even a current Real Presence Radio podcast featuring Fr. Mark and Jim Kinyon discussing the tournament. Entry fees include breakfast, lunch, and prime rib dinner.

 “This is a great opportunity to involve parish youth in a fun, diocesan event with our seminarians and diocesan priests,” said Kinyon.