Brainerd, MN — Tournament officials for the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza have been issued a permit for the Feb. 11 event. Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl and Sgt. Scott Goddard checked ice conditions on Gull Lake Thursday, Jan. 26, and the ice was consistently past the minimum requirement of 16 inches to issue the permit. Tournament officials found 17-22” of clear ice throughout the contest site.
The Crow Wing and Cass County Sheriff’s Offices are asking for the public’s understanding in the restriction of vehicle traffic on the Gull Chain of Lakes for the fishing tournament. Event organizers are working with officials and taking extra precautions to ensure a safe and successful event. All public use accesses will be marked and staffed to inform contestants that no vehicle traffic will be allowed on the lake for travel to and from the ice fishing tournament area. There are a number of areas on the Gull Chain where there is not enough ice to support a vehicle. A large area of Gull Lake remained open until two weeks ago and ice heaves are present in other areas. Both offices encourage everyone planning on attending the event to use provided parking and shuttle service to travel to and from the event. “We want everybody to celebrate in the true spirit of the Extravaganza in the safest way possible,” said event organizer, Troy Imgrund. “We are very excited that everything is moving forward and we are ready to put on another great event!”
The 22nd annual contest begins at noon on Feb. 11 on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day Bay and contestants stand to win over $200,000 in prizes this year if they catch one of 150 fish. Prizes include a winner’s choice of a Ford or GMC Pick-up Truck, an Ice Castle Fish House, and a variety of other ice fishing related products. “We are excited about the increased value of our prize list and know that it’s the best in Minnesota. Not a single prize is worth less than $250, so it’s worth the wait for our contestants,” said event organizer Troy Imgrund. “Also new this year is the Crestliner Catch of the Day Boat Give Away where contestants can enter a secondary contest for a chance to win a new boat if they catch the largest perch and have the $5 stamp attached to their contest ticket.”
Previously scheduled to be held on Jan. 21, all tickets pre-purchased will be honored on Feb. 11. Tickets are available online, at ticket outlets, and on the ice the day of the event. Refunds will not be issued but if ticket holders are unable to attend the 2012 event a voucher for the 2013 event will be issued.
First held in 1991, this event has been postponed only one other time in 2002 and moved to a different lake once in 2006. Hailed as the world’s largest charitable ice fishing tournament with over 10,000 anglers attending annually, event organizers have donated nearly $3-million to Brainerd-area charities, most notably Confidence Learning Center. The volunteer-run event is organized by the Brainerd Jaycees who have over 150
Find the most up to date event information at www.icefishing.org.