2013 Ice Fishing Challenge is Saturday

The Alexandria Sertoma Club will host the 13th annual Ice Fishing Challenge on Lake L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria on Saturday, February 9. The tournament will begin at noon.

Last year’s tournament awarded a top prize of $20,000 cash and hosted an estimated 3,264 participants, which was the largest in the tournament’s history.

This year’s event will include all cash prizes, with the top prize again being $20,000. Raffle tickets are also available for a chance to win cash prizes up to $5,000 (need not be present to win).

There will be a variety of food and beverage vendors at the event, and the Boy Scouts will be on the ice the day of the tournament to open frozen holes for participants in exchange for donations.

This year’s tournament will again feature a free youth fishing expo for children 16 and younger (bring own pole). Mike Frisch, an expert angler, will conduct a seminar from 9 to 11 a.m., giving young anglers hands-on instruction in a fun, interactive atmosphere. Prizes will be awarded to all youth fishing expo participants.

A Twin Cities author will be at the event to read from her book, One Frozen Lake, which is based on a young child going ice fishing with his grandfather. She will also sign and sell books.

Participants are also encouraged to bring portable FM radios to enjoy the live broadcast of the event over COOL 94.3. The radio station will also be awarding giveaways to those who are listening.

Tickets for the Challenge are $35 and can be purchased online at www.icefishingchallenge.org or at Christopherson’s Bait, Sunnie’s (formerly Three Havens) and Elden’s Fresh Foods, all in Alexandria.

Tags: ice fishing, variety, entertainment, tournament