Reality TV to film at Lake Osakis

Talk about it

The colder it gets the more attention seems to shift to Lake Osakis and soon this local lake will be breaking new ice – this time on reality television.

The North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) will host its first tournament of 2009 on Lake Osakis this Sunday, January 4.

Along with boatloads of anglers, camera crews from the new reality TV program, Ice Men – to air on the Sportsman Channel – will be at Head of the Lakes Resort and on Lake Osakis prior to and during the tournament.

In addition, the tournament offers learning opportunities for adults and children within the local communities.

Tournament information

The Osakis qualifying tournament is open to the first 150 NAIFC two-person teams that enter. NAIFC tournaments are run like Bassmasters or FLW tournaments, meaning that teams must find their own fish, and drill their own holes.

Walking, ATVs and snowmobiles are the mode of transportation and portable fish shelters are allowed. The tournament’s fishing hours are from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. January 4 and will focus on bluegills and crappies.

Education

To help promote ice fishing among the next generation, the NAIFC plans to host an Ice Camp for kids.

Since the schools aren’t in session during the tournament, on Friday, January 2, Osakis area children and their parents are invited to the General Store in Osakis and those closer to Long Prairie can go to the Long Prairie Legion Hall for classroom-type training on the basics of ice fishing.

In Osakis, Jack Baker will discuss rods, reels, bait and jigging along with answering questions about ice fishing.

After the dry-land portion, the kids, parents and instructors are invited to Head of the Lakes Resort for lunch – specials are available for attendees – followed by the opportunity to go out on the ice for a hands-on.

For adults there is a Friday night seminar at Long Prairie VFW. After the seminar those attending will split into groups led by NAIFC Touring Pro-Staff to discuss fishing techniques in detail. On Saturday morning the groups will meet at Head of the Lakes Resort where the NAIFC Pro-Staff will show the techniques on Lake Osakis.

Baker encourages participation in the seminars.

“There is no faster way to learn the successful details of ice fishing than to attend these seminars,” he said.

Reality TV

Ice Men reveals a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare for, compete in and win world-class ice fishing tournaments.

The cameras follow team progress during the tournament, focusing on five teams throughout the circuit. If a local team is fishing really well, it will also be included on the program as the fifth team, according to Jack Baker, president of the NAIFC.

Along with classic reality-TV drama, the program format includes educating the public by highlighting the latest techniques and products used by some of the best.

Episodes will begin airing on the Sportsman Channel in January. Streaming video and bonus segments will be available online at www.thesportmanchannel

.com. For more information on the Lake Osakis NAIFC Tournament, call Head of the Lakes Resort at (320) 859-4252 or look online at www.naifc.com. To enter the tournament, call Kathy at (320) 252-0428.

Tags: ice, fishing, challenge, lake, osakis, reality, tv, film, ice, men, show