Up for a challenge? Try the Ice Fishing Challenge this Saturday

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Mother Nature must have been listening when organizers of the Ice Fishing Challenge asked for good weather.

The forecast for the 9th annual event, which is slated for this Saturday, February 7, calls for temperatures in the low 30s with partly sunny skies.

“I think we are finally going to have that year we have been waiting for,” said Jim Stratton, one of the event organizers. “We are ready!”

The 9th annual Ice Fishing Challenge, sponsored by the Alexandria Sertoma Club and Viking Sportsmen, will take place on Lake L’Homme Dieu near Krueger’s Creek public access from noon to 3 p.m. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and buses will start at 9 a.m.

Around 6,000 holes were drilled for the event. About 4,000 anglers are expected.

Because of predicted warm temperatures, Stratton believes there won’t be as much ice cover on holes this year. He still urges contestants to bring a small chisel just in case. Participants should also bring an FM radio because the tournament will have a public address system using FM.

Ice anglers can’t bring any glass containers or ice augers with them. All buckets will be checked. Spectators are welcome on the ice as long as they are not fishing.

This year’s contest features more than $100,000 worth of prizes, including a new Ford F-150 4x4 as the grand prize.

You don’t have to catch a large fish to be a winner; many of last year’s winners had fish that weighed less than one pound. The 2008 grand-prize winner, Harold Wildman of Villard, took top honors with a 3.81-pound northern. He earned a brand new Ford F150 4X4 truck.

For more information about the contest, call Stratton at (320) 808-5096 or visit www.echopress. com/marketplace/icefishingchallenge.

TICKET INFO

Tickets for the tournament are now $45. No refunds will be given for any reason.

Tickets are available at Koeps in Glenwood, Shooting Sports Outlet in Parkers Prairie, Holiday Super Stop in Sauk Centre, The General Store in Osakis and the following Alexandria businesses: Christopherson’s Bait, Elden’s Food Fair, Alexandria Appliance, Brophy Bay Gas Mart and Moore’s Three Havens General Store.

PRIZES FOR ICE FISHING CHALLENGE

Here’s a list of some of the top prizes for this year’s Ice Fishing Challenge. A complete list of prizes can be found on the Ice Fishing Challenge’s Web site. Go to www.echopress.com/ marketplace/icefishingchallenge.

List of prizes:

1. Ford F-150 4X4

2. Lodge Dakota fish house

3. Arctic Armour jacket

4. Strikemaster Lazer Mag ice auger

5. Vexilar FL8 Pro Pack fish finder

6. Aqua Vu underwater camera

7. $100 gift certificate Elden’s Food Fair

8. Reclining microfiber love seat and leather ottoman

9. $100 cash

10. Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4

20. HDTV

30. Can-Am 90 cc ATV

40. Trailer with ramp

50. Panther 370

60. HDTV/home entertainment

70. Cub Cadet 42” ZTO

80. Storage shed

90. Versi Shak fish house

100. Diamond circle pendant

Tags: ice, fishing, challenge, sertoma, viking, sportsmen