Ice Fishing to the Max

Ever wonder what they do in MN in the Winter?
http://www.icefishing.org/index.cfm
Brainerd, MN -- The 19th Annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza will be held this Saturday, January 24, on Gull Lake's Hole in the Day Bay. All of the conditions -- ice, ticket sales, prizes and sponsors -- are looking the best they've been in years. Event Chairman Jeff Hegg said, "We are very excited about the Extravaganza this year. We've got good site conditions and ticket sales are ahead of previous years. Many of our sponsors really stepped up their participation this year because we’re one of the longest-running successful ice fishing contests in Minnesota."

The economic conditions have affected a number of charitable fundraisers and organizations but the Extravaganza continues to maintain its strong position as a flagship winter event for the Brainerd-lakes area. This event generates over $1.5-million dollars in revenue over the course of the weekend and many local businesses are anxious for the anglers to come to town.

Crow Wing County Sherriff Todd Dahl will issue the official event permit on Monday. He checked the ice conditions of Hole in the Day Bay for the second time last Thursday. 14-18” of ice were found throughout the contest site and with the projected sub-zero overnight temperatures the Sherriff and the Extravaganza Committee expect to find a few more inches of ice come the 24th. “We are confident in the conditions and the Jaycees efforts to run a safe contest,” said Dahl.

In 1990 the Brainerd Jaycees had a desire to develop a signature project—a
project that would rally members, raise money for local charities, and provide
avenues for individual growth, personal development, and leadership. It is
certain the founders never expected this event would become the world’s
largest ice fi shing contest and put Brainerd, MN, on the map with a winter
event that generates over $1-million in revenue for area businesses and over
$200,000 for area charities annually.

The Ice Fishing Extravaganza is held in January (typically the third or fourth
Saturday of the month) on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day Bay. It is an ice fishing
contest where anglers compete for well over $150,000 in cash and prizes. There
are 150 spots on the prize board and the values are distributed throughout
the list, not in value-order. Contestants are judged on the weight of their fish
only—not the particular species of fish caught or length. All weigh-ins are
time-stamped so in the event of a tie the fi rst fish weighed takes precedence.