Ice fishing is a winter sport that invites tournaments. Serious ice anglers throughout Michigan are not disappointed as they travel the state in search of the next contest. Beginning when the ice gets thick enough to safely hold a fisherman and his shanty, and proceeding to the inevitable ice-out, you'll find tournaments in every nook and cranny of the state. From benefit events to big-money competitions, Michigan's ice-fishing community is never at a loss for some competition.
Benefit Tournament
Many tournaments are organized to benefit local charities--the newest of the lot, Alpena's 2010 Reel Fun Ice Fishing Tournament, was organized to benefit The River Center, a planned, state-of-the-art interpretive center that will complement Alpena's 500-acre wildlife sanctuary. With prizes that included a new Yamaha all-terrain vehicle for first place and a Frabill R2 Tech insulated shelter for second, this recently envisioned event fulfilled its commitment to the Center and provided contestants with a great day on the "hard water."
Big Event
One of the state's largest tournaments happens each year in Brooklyn. The Midwest Open Ice Tournament lures hundreds of ice anglers. Two-man teams spend a day going after crappie, sunfish and bluegill. Entry fee is $120 per team, as of 2010. You can weigh in up to eight crappie and eight sunfish or bluegill in this one-day, total-weight tournament. Besides a substantial monetary prize, $12,000 in 2011 for first place, the local food pantry benefits, as all fish caught are donated to the pantry to help feed the less fortunate citizens of the area.
Qualifiers
Many qualifying tournaments are held throughout Michigan, including the 2011 North American Ice Fishing Circuit open qualifier on Hamlin Lake, near Ludington. Officials estimate 150 teams will participate in this tournament, set for January 15, that sends fishermen after crappie and sunfish. Eight of each species are weighed to determine which team will go home with the lion's share of an estimated $21,000 payout. Other scheduled tournaments that lead up to the 2011 open championship include a January 9 contest in Winnipeg, Canada, and one on February 20 in Richmond Lake, South Dakota. The 2010 series championship is set for December 18 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Local Contest
Many of Michigan's local contests are associated with festivals that celebrate winter activities. Cadillac's North American Snow Festival has an ice fishing tournament that is open to anglers of all ages. Prizes are awarded for the largest pike, walleye, bluegill, crappie, perch and bowfin. Non-fishermen in your group will enjoy many other on- and off-ice activities including a snow-sculpture contest, chili cook-off, fun run and snowmobile races on the ice of Lake Cadillac. With 26 years under their belt and counting, the folks in Cadillac know how to throw a winter festival, and the thousands who visit are testimony to the events continued success.
Species
A lot of the tournaments are species specific. The Ice Fishing for Perch Tournament Series, held throughout February on Lake St. Clair, is not only species specific, but size specific as well. Tourney rules require that each perch submitted to officials measure between 8 and 12 inches. Most fish entered wins, and in case of a tie, the angler with the most 10- to 12-inch perch claims the top prize. Payout varies as it is based on 96 percent of the weekly entry fees. With an entry fee of only $25, this is a popular southern Michigan tournament.
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