Brainerd, MN—The Brainerd Jaycees and Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department checked ice conditions on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day Bay on Friday, Jan. 29, and found 14-20” of ice throughout the contest site. The event permit was officially issued. “Safety is our number one priority so we’re thankful that by postponing the event two weeks there is more than enough ice to host the contest,” said contest chair Angie Nelson. Contest organizers look forward to seeing participants at the 26th Annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza next Saturday, February 6. The Brainerd Jaycees would like to thank participants, contestants, sponsors and area businesses for their ongoing support. Tickets can be purchased at Brainerd-area outlets and on the ice the day of the contest. For more information go to the event website at icefishing.org.
Brainerd Jaycees contest officials and the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office have decided to postpone the charitable ice fishing contest held on Gull Lake until February 6 in the interest of safety. “The warm weather has had an adverse effect on the lake ice; the result being inconsistent ice thickness through-out our lakes. The safety for our volunteers, personnel and those attending the event is the Sheriff’s Office main concern. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Brainerd Jaycees for all the dedication and support that has been offered and look forward to a fun and safe event in the very near future,” Lieutenant Scott Goddard stated.
“With the latest cold snap, we were optimistic the ice would be ready for us, but Mother Nature had another plan,” Chairperson Angie Nelson said, “however, it’s critical that we make sure the contest site is safe. This announcement will hopefully allow our participants enough time to adjust their plans to join us in three weeks.”
A postponement date of February 6 is listed on all contest tickets. Contestants stand to win over $200,000 in prizes this year if they catch one of the 150 fish! In addition, a random prize drawing for additional prizes including an Ice Castle Mille Lacs Hybrid fish house and an Arctic Cat Prowler, other gift cards, and ice fishing accessories totaling nearly $40,000 in prizes is held.
The Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos Comedy Show hosted by the Jaycees at Grandview Lodge will continue to be held on Friday, January 22. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Brainerd Warrior Fishing Team in support of our next generation of anglers. Tickets may be purchased online at www.icefishing.org or stop in at Anderson Cleaners in Brainerd.
First held in 1991, this event has never been canceled and been postponed only two other times, in 2002 and 2012. The contest was moved to a different lake once in 2006. Proceeds from the world’s largest charitable ice fishing tournament has donated over $3-million to Brainerd-area charities, most notably Confidence Learning Center. The volunteer-run event is organized by the Brainerd Jaycees who have over 140 members contributing more than 75,000 hours and nearly $200,000 to the community annually.
Eager anglers are encouraged to monitor the Extravaganza Facebook page and web site at www.icefishing.org to purchase tickets or get information including up to date reports on ice conditions.
Brainerd, MN – Anglers from around the United States are getting ready to hit the ice of Gull Lake in hopes of catching a prize winning fish at the world’s largest charitable ice fishing tournament. The 26th Annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd.
With ice thickness varying widely around the state there has been some concern about conditions. The Jaycees are closely monitoring the area of Gull Lake where the contest is held. Projected low temperatures which dominate the forecast in central Minnesota are expected to range from the teens to below zero in the time leading up to the contest. The Jaycees are optimistic that Hole in the Day Bay of Gull Lake will have enough ice.
“Our plans are a go for the 23rd,” says Chairperson Angie Nelson, “We’ve been in close communication with the Sheriff’s Department and will continue to do so in order to make a timely decision should there be a change in plans. We know how important this event is for our anglers, supporters and the entire community. If a change in plans is required an announcement will be made on Friday, January 15.”
The Extravaganza boasts nearly $200,000 in prizes for lucky or skilled anglers and prizes are awarded to the largest 150 fish registered during the three-hour contest. First place wins a new Ford or GMC 4×4 Pickup, 100th place earns an Ice Castle Red Lake Edition Fish-house valued at over $15,000, and 150th place takes home an Arctic Cat ATV. Additional prizes such as ice augers, fish locators, ATV’s, underwater camera’s, and various gift cards are placed randomly among the top 150 places. In addition, a random prize drawing for additional prizes including an Ice Castle Mille Lacs Hybrid fish house and an Arctic Cat Prowler, other gift cards, and ice fishing accessories totaling nearly $40,000 in prizes is held.
All proceeds from the Jaycees Extravaganza directly benefit non-profit organizations serving a variety of community needs. Confidence Learning Center, an outdoor education and recreation facility for persons with developmental disabilities is the primary recipient of the funds each year. Donations to 50 organizations from last year’s event totaled over $186,000.
Kicking off the Extravaganza weekend will be the Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos Comedy Show hosted by the Jaycees at Grandview Lodge. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Brainerd Warrior Fishing Team in support of our next generation of anglers. Advanced tickets are selling quickly – be sure to go to www.icefishing.org to purchase tickets today!
Eager anglers are encouraged to monitor the Extravaganza Facebook page and web site at www.icefishing.org to purchase tickets or get information including up to date reports on ice conditions.
Brainerd, MN – The Brainerd Jaycees 26th Annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza is set for January 23, on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day Bay, north of Brainerd, MN. This year’s prize list is valued at nearly $200,000. Contest tickets are available for a discounted price of $30 November 1-30 at all Mills Fleet Farm locations, and the Mills Indoor Shooting & Archery Center. As of December 1, contest tickets will be available for $50 at all ticket outlets through the event date.
The 26th Anniversary has much in store, including the Catch of the Day Extravaganza Give- Away, Lindy Bounty cash prize, and a Kick-Off party featuring Dueces Wild Dueling Piano Show. If you cannot attend the event, there is also the Extravaganza raffle, with total prizes valued at $40,000. Tickets for this are $10 each and can be purchased from several Brainerd area charities and at all Minnesota ticket outlets.
The Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza is completely volunteer run and all event proceeds are donated to area charities. The primary beneficiary is Confidence Learning Center, an outdoor recreational facility and camp for individuals with developmental disabilities. However, over 60 organizations in the Brainerd Lakes Area have received donations throughout the event’s history, which has exceeded $3.3 million in total. More information and official updates can be found at www.icefishing.org.
Brainerd, MN – Unseasonably warm winter weather brought more than 11,000 people to the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake Saturday. After the past couple years of wind and cold, this is exactly what was needed. The crowd was evidence enough that everyone was ready for the fishing to go on. Participants from as far away as Poland were on Gull Lake trying to ‘catch the big one’ in hopes of winning $200,000 in prizes.
At 12:02 p.m. the first angler entered the weigh-in tent carrying a perch. The winning fish didn’t arrive until approximately 2:45, but Steven Baumgartner from Owatonna, MN, landed it- a northern pike weighing 6.73 lbs – caught with a shiner in just 15 feet of water. When asked about his strategy, Steven said,” I wasn’t having luck at 26 feet, so I thought I’d give it a try in shallow water, and that sure worked.” Baumgartner chose the new GMC pick-up truck from Mills Automotive Group. Winning the Catch of the Day Extravaganza Give-Away ice fishing package valued at nearly $9,000 was Rome Anding of Lake City, MN. His perch weighed in at .65 lbs so he also took home a StrikeMaster Ice Auger for 141st place on the leader board. Anding has been attending the contest for 10 years and was more than happy to hook up a new Ice Castle to his truck for the ride back home. There were a record 1,240 fish registered in the three-hour contest.
Hailed as the world’s largest charitable ice fishing contest, there are two notable characteristics about this event, it is completely volunteer run and 100% of the proceeds are donated to charities throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area. The Brainerd Jaycees invest more than 20,000 hours in the planning of the contest. Amongst the 400 volunteers was Sarah Stenerson, the chairperson of the tournament this year. She said, “This was a great day for us, for our contestants, and for the entire community. The 25th anniversary of the Extravaganza was a phenomenal success!”
The largest beneficiary is Confidence Learning Center, an outdoor recreational facility for people with developmental disabilities, but an estimated 50 charities will benefit from the proceeds of the event. The Brainerd Jaycees have donated nearly $3 -million to charities since the first Extravaganza was held in 1991.
All official event information can be found online at www.icefishing.org including a complete winner’s list.