https://usangling.org/ice-fishing-worldchampionship-2025/

 

 

The ice fishing world championship is going on this weekend.

 

1: I didn’t know there was such a thing

2: There are anglers from 10 different countries 

3: It’s basically in my backyard on a 300 acre lake only a 15 minute drive from me

4: This year they’re releasing the fish after weigh-in (although the news story showed floating fish in the bucket 😁) 

5: FFS guys eat your heart out, THERE ARE NO ELECTRONICS. There are also no mechanical augers or vehicles used.

 

And if you’re wondering, no I’m not going to go stand on a giant ice cube and freeze my but off to watch a handful of anglers weigh a bunch of bluegill.

 

Kind of interesting though that out off all the lakes in Michigan or anywhere in the frozen north, they’d select this lake in this small town. 

 

 

No electronics? So its just a bunch of people standing around watching tip ups?

 

 

 

 

Nope! They’re jigging. The head guy said he expects the winning weight to be around 12lbs. It looks like it’s mostly going to be panfish.

Interesting. I couldnt imagine ice fishing without my vexilar, plus who would ever want to watch people ice fish. 

7 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

5: FFS guys eat your heart out, THERE ARE NO ELECTRONICS. There are also no mechanical augers or vehicles used.

 

Ice fishing contests/derbies are popular here in the winter when we get safe ice.  Most of the more serious ones are panfish-specific.  But they all allow electronics, to my knowledge.

 

There is one, however, that does not.  It's the largest ice fishing event in the world and it's held on Gull Lake near Brainerd, MN.  This year it was on Feb 1 (13 days ago).  There are some really good prizes too.  It's called the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.

 

They limit you to 3 hours of fishing (noon - 3pm) in a specific area that has a boundary.  So you are basically surrounded by thousands of other anglers also fishing.  Holes are pre-drilled the day before and you cannot bring any augers or graphs or shelters of any kind.  The holes are first come, first serve.  The ones over really deep water on the edge of the boundary are the highest sought after because they are the most likely to produce a fish.

 

Here's the website and results.  Not very many fish given how many people participate.  Basically, if you catch a fish of any kind, you will win a prize.

 

https://www.icefishing.org

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Texas Flood said:

plus who would ever want to watch people ice fish. 

 

Fixed it for ya 😂

@gim dont make me drive up there and give you a swirly 

1 hour ago, Texas Flood said:

@gim dont make me drive up there and give you a swirly 

He doesn't have enough hair to make it worthwhile.

@MN Fisher easy now! I’m hair deficient.

6 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

@MN Fisher easy now! I’m hair deficient.

Dude, if I didn't have the ponytail, I'd have just about nothing myself.

I'm also follicly challenged.

 

 

 

Bald bros unite!

2 hours ago, Texas Flood said:

I'm also follicly challenged

That’s perfect!