Sebago Lake Derby, Feb 18-19; cost: $30 single or $50 family

Ice fishing weigh stations are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. A polar dip will be on Saturday, Feb. 18 at noon. Snowmobile speed runs will be Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m.

The Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derbies, with a top prize of $100,000, has a new director, as Tom Noonan has stepped down after 11 years of running the third largest ice-fishing event in the country. Rotarians Ingo Hartig and Steve McFarland have volunteered to co-direct the derby. You can check out all of the events, festivities and prizes at www.icefishingderby.

This year, the derby is scheduled during the free fishing weekend so you don’t need to purchase a Maine license to fish. What a deal!

Kids Fishing Derby, Feb 18; sponsored by the Kittery Trading Post, this event is very popular with the youngsters and is free.

Location: Range Pond State Park in Poland, Maine; from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be free ice fishing equipment for 500 kids.

Statewide Fishing Derby, March 3-4; cost: $20 single or $30

Ice fishing weigh stations are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There are over 20 weigh stations across the state of Maine.

They are now pre-selling tickets for this event. Those who buy now will be entered into a daily drawing for prices before the derby even starts.

Starting Jan. 19, they will randomly draw one name from all paid entries at that time. The winner will receive gift certificate(s) totaling $100-$200 each day until Derby Day on Feb. 18.

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Every year, the Great Rotary Ice Fishing Derby draws thousands of visitors from all over the U.S. and Canada to Meredith, N.H., to fish on Lake Winnipesaukee.

This year the Rotary Derby will be held the weekend of Feb. 11-12.

More than $60,000 in prizes are up for grabs this year, so grab a registration form, mail it in and get your gear ready. With a little luck, you will soon be standing in the winner’s circle.

It’s a big party on the ice as friends, relatives and total strangers set up their shanties on their “lucky” holes hoping to grab first prize. However, second, third and all of the rest of the prizes are good. Consider winning a new boat, motor and trailer, an ATV or fishing gear. How about winning a daily cash prize for catching the biggest fish?

Tickets can also be purchased at the following dealers: AJ’s Bait and Tackle, the Winnisquam Trading Post, Skelly’s Market, Alton Circle Grocery and Paugus Bay Sporting Goods. You can also purchase tickets directly at derby headquarters in Meredith,

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When will the ice set up? Will it come early, on time or late? I would say it all depends on Mother Nature and her attitude, because if she is cranky then look out as we will have thick ice and tons of snow.

If she is happy, it will be a mild winter with good ice, little snow and an early ice-out. I hope she’s happy, so I can launch my boat and go fishing on open water. Why? Because it’s tough to get a tan on the ice.

Mild days, cool nights, snow for Christmas and then warm-up. Now that’s my kind of winter.

When I was young and naïve, I loved to play in the snow. We would build snow forts and have snowball fights. We would lob snowballs at cars driving by from behind a huge mound of snow. We would put snow down the necks of any girl who invaded our territory. My apologies for that, but remember, I was young and stupid.

We used to play hockey on the small ice ponds throughout the Seacoast area from morning until the dark of night stopped the game. Most years, this took place in late November and early December. Now, we’re lucky if we get safe ice in January.

But, the good news is that it is approximately 14 weeks before we will be on the open water fishing in bass tournaments.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20111219-SPORTS-112190304

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Ice Fishing Lake Manitoba Narrows

The Canadian Ice Fishing Championship (CIFC) is an institution in Canada’s competitive ice fishing history. Formed two years after the 1992 World Ice Fishing Championship was held at Lake Simcoe, it was the creation of dedicated people including Mike Burrows, Paul Nicholls, Joe Montgomery and the late John Powers among others. Rocky Madsen served on the Board of Directors and eventually took over the CIFC in 2005. Additional events were created over the following years and along with the CIFC they are now part of the total operation known as the Georgina Fishing Series:
The Winter Perch Attack Ice Fishing Tournament
The Spring Perch Attack Ice Fishing Tournament
The Great Georgina Ice Fishing Derby
The Lake Simcoe Evening Bass Tournament Series

Ensuring the continuation of Canadian Ice Fishing Championship was a factor in the decision to ‘take the reins’ in time for a 2012 event. The Canadian Ice Fishing Championship is an established name with tourism interests both local and provincial. Competing anglers from Canada and the U.S.A. have regarded this as this country’s premier ice fishing event.

“This acquisition fits well within our goals at Lures & Tours to increase awareness of sport fishing as a major tourism driver in Ontario. The website alone has become a major draw for people interested in fishing Lake Simcoe,” said Rosa Sharpe. “We plan to grow this event considerably and draw more attention to ice fishing,” she concluded.

Lures & Tours publishes a growing series of pocket sized directories covering some of the province’s most popular fishing destinations. The company has always supported tournaments, derbies and family fishing events, providing sponsorship, advertising, and photo albums to generate interest before and after the fact.

http://www.prlog.org/11714850-canadian-ice-fishing-championship-georgina-ice-fishing-series-new-owners-lures-tours.html

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Ice fishing derbies in Manitoba give anglers a chance to compete for prizes by catching the largest fish. Most of the derbies occur in March when lake ice reaches its thickest point. Derby officials drill holes in the ice, and ticket-holders select a hole from which they hope to catch a trophy-sized walleye, the big draw in Manitoba.

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Most of the festivities will be held Saturday. In addition to the competition, local clubs and vendors will be displaying at the Park Pavilion Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and an aquatic biologist will conduct a presentation about “Fish of the St. Joe River” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Uncle Gus’s Gourmet BBQ will be grilling up goodies all day and Mike McNett, Executive Producer of the Versus “Icemen” reality fishing show and Captain of the U.S. World Champion Ice Fishing Team will be on hand. Live music will be provided throughout the afternoon.

The Matchfishing will be conducted from the St. Joseph River bank between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Top Matchfishing anglers from the U.S., Canada and Europe will be participating and the public is invited to look on.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the U.S. team participating in the World Sportfishing Championships this fall will conduct a fishing demonstration.

The Midway Bait and Tackle “Kids Fishing Derby” will begin with check-in at 3:30 Saturday with competition from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Entry fee is $3 per child and the first 50 to enter receive goodie bags. The top three finishers in two age groups (7-12 and 13-17) will receive prizes. Kids must provide their own gear and bait, although bait will be sold in the park. For more information about the youth contest, call Mike McNulty, (574-674-8880).

For information about the Matchfishing or other festival events, contact Tony Forte (574) 202-4877.

Eagle parking closed

The former “Dock” parking lot across from the Eagle Lake boat launch in Edwardsburg has been closed.

The lot is now owned by First Source Bank which has roped off the area and prohibits boat trailer parking. There is limited parking alongside the road.

R&B results

South Bend native Greg Mangus (Fremont, Ind.) and Kevin Fletcher (Elkhart) caught a limit of bass weighing 14.51 pounds to win the R&B Bass Circuit event on Lake Wawasee last weekend.

The winners fished black and green jigs on the outside edge of weedlines to beat 41 teams. Their sack included the Starboard Choice Marine big bass (4.97 pounds). Their total winnings were $1,150.

Second place ($442) went to Craig Chupp (Goshen) and Dave Miller (Nappanee) who had 11.88 pounds caught drop-shotting with finesse worms rigged wacky.

Benji Waldbeser (Syracuse) and Travis Speicher (Milford) were third ($332) with 11.77 pounds caught on shallow-running crankbaits.

The next event is July 23 at Klinger Lake. Visit _ www.randbbasscircuit.com. or www.randbbasscircuit.com. for details.

SMAC results

Wednesday event: Dan Pose (Niles) fished alone and caught 4 keepers totaling 9.96 pounds to win the Southwest Michigan Anglers Club event on Lake of the Woods at Decatur, Mich.

His catch included big bass of the event, a 4.39 pounder, and all of the fish were caught by swimming a green pumpkin-colored jig.

Chuck Nearpass (Benton Harbor) and Scott Davis (Coloma) were second with 8.29 pounds caught on Pop-Rs while Danny Linn (South Bend) and Adam Crocker (Edwardsburg) were third with eight pounds taken on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Sunday event: Rick Kedik and Scott Crocker (Niles) caught a limit weighing 12.83 pounds caught on Poor Boys tubes and Big Snack jigs fished along the seawalls of Paw Paw Lake.

Second place went to Rich Osgood (Bridgman) and Brad Augustine (Plainwell, Mich.) with 12.19 caught on tubes and drop-shot rigs while Gene Hall and Greg Yarbough (Niles) were third with 8.80 pounds caught on Sweet Beavers and Wacky worms. They also win the big bass pot with a 3.70-pound largemouth.

The next event is June 22 at Magician Lake.

Local pros win cash

Teddy Bradley of Mishawaka and Leo Reiter of Goshen won cash in the recent FLW Tour Open on the Potomac River in Maryland.

Bradley finished 45th and won $10,000 while Reiter was 60th and won $4,000. Both anglers fished the pro side of competition.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-fishing-for-fun-times-20110612,0,6477752.column

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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Mainstay Suites Winnipeg

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This derby, considered to be the largest its kind in North America, has the town of Georgina claiming the title, “Ice Fishing Capital of Canada”. The derby makes use of Lake Simcoe to host a remarkable 2 week event, kicking off January 29th and wrapping up this Sunday with cash prizes to be awarded to the biggest catches.

What is unique about the derby is that it is a fishing event that the whole family, fishing buddies and couples can delight in. You can fish anywhere on Lake Simcoe for up to fourteen days, from sun up until dark. getting involved is simple – just buy  14-day ticket and go fishing on Lake Simcoe, and make use of the ice, your personal shelters or  a commercially rented fish hut.

Even if you are not a fishing enthusiast (I’ve never fished in summer let alone winter!) not only are the village of ice huts on Lake Simcoe a site to see, but you also may catch a glimpse of a kiteboarder making use of the frozen surface. one of the best vantage points is from Willow Beach Conservation Area, where you can see a rainbow of different multi coloured huts.

http://bass411.com/the-%E2%80%9Cice-fishing-capital-of-canada%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-in-our-own-backyard-ice-fishing-lake-manitoba-narrows/

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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For the seventh year in a row – family and friends of the late Brian Leclair, who died from cancer, set up a 24-hour fishing event on the Red River at Selkirk Park.

On Feb. 26 and 27, heated tents were set up on the Red River as well as many other ice fishing shelters as 82 ice fishing anglers participated in the 24-hour marathon which included a completive event as well as a celebrity challenge which featured members of the media.

Forty-nine-year-old Lucille Belanger, who is the sister-in-law of the late Brian Leclair, described the event as very much a family event.

“People come back every year,” said Belanger, just before the halfway mark of the 24-hour marathon of fishing. “Even for a cold day like today, we had a good showing,”

Despite a bitterly cold weekend in Selkirk for the annual event which resulted in a smaller number of participants as in previous years, those that stuck it out for the ice fishing marathon didn’t let the cold snag their enjoyment of an event that supports a worthwhile cause and continues to grow with activities for the fishermen and fisherwomen.

“We’re trying to expand the kid’s event, however this year it was just too cold for the outdoor kid’s activities so we moved the activities into the heated tents,” said Belanger.

Winnipeg resident Blake Hasiuk participated in the annual fishing derby for his first time, and despite not having a fish bite his hook after the first seven hours of fishing, the 45-year-old, whose father died from cancer, did win a large jar of jelly beans for guessing how many of the colourful candy pieces were contained in the jar.

“It’ll be interesting to see how many people are here at 2 a.m.,” said Hasiuk with a chuckle. “It’s nice to meet other people at the event that are supporting Cancer Care. Everyone has been nice from the minute I got here and I hope to be back next year.”

Mikket Brabinski stuck it out on the frozen Red River for the 24 hours and proved to be a Walleye warrior as he caught the largest fish at the event – a 32.75 inch Norhtern Pike. Shawn Bjornsson also proved to be a Walleye warrior in his own way as he was the top pledge earner at this year’s event as he raised $ 2,625.00.

Frank and Dorothy Normand were seen sitting side-by-side in the heated tent with their fishing rods held above two ice fishing holes cut into the ice of the Red River. An organized fishing challenge wasn’t enough for Frank and Dorothy as their own fishing challenge was also taking place at the Walleye Warrior fishing marathon, as Frank explained that whoever catches not only the first fish but also the largest fish has bragging rights once they get home.

“It’s great just getting out and fishing with my wife,” said Frank. “A lot of times you just go home with a smile.”

The couple didn’t let the fact that the fishing was a little slow at the fishing derby slow down their fun as they took advantage of the opportunity to be together, sharing a passion for fishing.

“I usually catch more than him,” said Dorothy with a smile. “It’s relaxing and it is fun.”

http://www.selkirkjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3004135

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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(STAFF) — The 6th annual CHBA-Simcoe County Ice Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday at the Southshore Commumity Centre in Barrie.

This year, more than $50,000 in prizes will be up for grabs.

“The ice is great and the prize list is even greater,” says Matt Pryce, co-chair of the event. “This event is now seen as part of the winter scene in Barrie – part of what the city has to offer.”

The prize list is long and includes numerous items. Among them, an ATV, 4×4, 2011 Polaris 600 and a 14-foot boat motor and trailer.

Holes for the Tournament are still available and cost $85 (including HST). Tournament organizers are hoping to break last year’s record attendance of 870. As always, breakfast and lunch are included in the price of the ticket.

To date, this event has given more than $131,500 to community causes around Simcoe County; including Gilda’s Club-Barrie, Seasons Centre for Grieving Children, Learning Disabilities Association, and this year’s recipient – Children’s Aid Foundation of Simcoe County.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have been chosen to receive funds this year,” said Kimberly Carson of the foundation. ” Many of our supporters will be there to help out on Saturday.”

Major sponsors include Direct Energy and their team of Rinnai/Redmond Williams and Rheem Canada.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2981584

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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This week, I’m excited to be a part of our oldest festival, the Trappers’ Festival, in The Pas. There will be world championship sled-dog racing and King Trapper events such as canoe packing, trap setting, moose calling, bannock baking, a beard-growing contest, and more.

And this weekend, I’ll be visiting a cabane à sucre at St. Boniface’s Voyageur Festival—Western Canada’s largest winter festival. Canada’s fur trading era takes centre stage with voyageur joie de vivre, and there are magnificent snow sculptures, traditional dishes, and more than 300 music performances.

Also running this weekend is the Festival of Friends at St. Malo, where families can enjoy skating, the snow maze and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Live music, hockey and an ice fishing derby are also on the schedule.

Manitoba has more than 100 festivals that reflect the richness of our cultural heritage, vibrant communities and high quality of life—and just one of the many reasons more and more people are moving here every year.

http://todaysndp.ca/news/celebrating-manitoba%E2%80%99s-winter-festival-season

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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This derby, considered to be the largest its kind in North America, has the town of Georgina claiming the title, “Ice Fishing Capital of Canada”. The derby makes use of Lake Simcoe to host a remarkable 2 week event, kicking off January 29th and wrapping up this Sunday with cash prizes to be awarded to the biggest catches.

What is unique about the derby is that it is a fishing event that the whole family, fishing buddies and couples can enjoy. You can fish anywhere on Lake Simcoe for up to fourteen days, from sun up until dark. Getting involved is simple – just purchase  14-day ticket and go fishing on Lake Simcoe, and make use of the ice, your personal shelters or  a commercially rented fish hut.

Even if you are not a fishing enthusiast (I’ve never fished in summer let alone winter!) not only are the village of ice huts on Lake Simcoe a site to see, but you also may catch a glimpse of a kiteboarder making use of the frozen surface. One of the best vantage points is from Willow Beach Conservation Area, where you can see a rainbow of different multi coloured huts.

http://yorkscene.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/a-winter-tradition/

http://www.icefishinglakemanitobanarrows.com/

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Last week, however, I was gratified to see hundreds of area kids actively enjoying outdoor winter activities with their parents or classmates. I missed the earlier La Crosse Park and Recreation Department Youth Ice Fishing Derby held in La Crosse’s Pettibone Park on Jan. 23. Sponsors ACE Sportsland, the Youth Enrichment Association and La Crosse Bass Masters provided bait, tackle and hot chocolate for the kids.

In spite of spring-like drizzly weather, this year’s event attracted more than 100 kids and their parents, a big increase from last year. Lots of fish were caught and everyone went home with prizes even if they didn’t catch any fish.

Last weekend, though, I did get to see crowds of kids and their folks having fun on the ice both at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery and on Lake Onalaska for the Brice Prairie Conservation Association’s 50th annual derby.

GNFH held its second annual Youth Ice Fishing Day. This year a lot more kids also showed up at Genoa to catch the rainbow trout stocked in one of the large hatchery ponds. Several kids were thrilled to catch their first fish that day.

I also heard the voices of excited primary and middle school kids during the week at Norskedalen near Coon Valley. I presented some of my pictures of local animals that stay throughout the winter as well as some who survive by hibernating or migrating in response to the winter. The more than 200 kids were surprisingly attentive during several sessions, even though they were all bundled up for winter experiences that included learning to use snowshoes, sledding, a demonstration of snowmobile safety and roasting marshmallows.

Two therapy dogs were also at Norskedalen with their handlers from the Coulee Region Humane Society. All of those enthusiastic kids reminded me of the good days I experienced when I was a classroom teacher myself, and I was especially gratified to see one of my former grade school students with a class of her own at Norskedalen that day.

Silence of the wolves

This might sound like a contradiction, but last week I also enjoyed quite a different aspect of the outdoors that I have discussed here in the past — silence. Sure, I am pleased by the sound of excited, curious and joyful children, but I am also uplifted by the silence to be found in nature. As I have pointed out before, that does not simply mean an absence of sound, though at times it comes close, but rather an absence of artificial noises.

Most of us have become so accustomed to being surrounded by such noise, that we think nothing of it. But numerous researchers have found that even though we might feel unaffected by the steady barrage of noise, it amounts to a negative stress load whether we know it or not.

Ironically, though, the absence of that noise can make those who are unfamiliar with true silence feel very nervous. In other words, it usually takes a while for most people to become comfortable with a safer, healthier amount of noise.

Those who have spent a lot of time outdoors, however — whether during camping trips to quiet places, bow hunting for hours waiting for deer, sitting on the ice waiting for a bite, or listening for the calls of birds —the relative silence can become refreshing and relaxing. In fact a whole new world of natural sounds might open up: the relaxing sound of the wind, the rain, a burbling stream and, eventually, the sound of silence itself.

While looking for wolf signs along the back roads of the Black River State Forest in Jackson County last week, I heard what could best be described as total silence for up to 10 minutes or more at a time. Since my ears are not as sharp as those of the wolves that I sought, I couldn’t hear the subtle sounds that they surely would have heard. What I heard, though, was a relaxing quiet that I have come to relish.

Those feelings are not new. I recently read the same sentiments more eloquently expressed in the words of Sigurd F. Olson, a leading conservationist and environmental champion of the last century. In his book, “Open Horizons,” he spoke of how silence affected him when he was a guide in the Quetico-Superior country of northern Minnesota and southern Canada.

“This was more than a temporary release from noise,” he wrote of the silence there, “it was a primordial thing that seeped into the deeper recesses of the mind until mechanical intrusions were intolerable.”

For a few hours in Jackson County last week, I enjoyed that sort of silence until at last I found the fresh trail of a wolf. The lightly falling snow had not yet accumulated in the tracks, and though I didn’t see it, I knew the wolf was near.

At that moment the howl of the wolf, however primordial and haunting it might have been, would have been more than tolerable — it would have been music to my ears.

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