February 5, 2014 at 2:01 p.m.
Lions Club ready for annual fisheree and winter festival
Lions Club ready for annual fisheree and winter festival
By Kayla Thomason-
"It is a fun event, particularily for the families. We get a lot of families that come out there and circle the wagons so to speak, around their fishing areas and they pull out their grill and grill out and have a good time," Rhinelander Lions Committee Chair Mike Romportl said.
Over the years Romportl said he has seen many families throwing a football or frisbee around, enjoying themselves.
Registration, raffles and concessions will be located in the Babe Ruth/ Eleanor Goepfert Shelter at the Hodag Park Boat Landing.
Each day there will be prizes for the longest northerns caught. First place wins $500, second place $200 and third place $100. Each winner will be eligible to win an ice auger or fishing shelter.
Those who catch walleye, perch, crappies and bluegills will also receive cash prize awards.
Children 11 years and under who catch a fish will be put in an hourly drawing for merchandise prizes.
Everyone who is fishing must have an official Rhinelander Lions Club entry ticket prior to participating in the event.
Early entry tickets will be sold until 11 p.m., Feb. 7 for $10 for everyone 12 years and older. Late entry tickets will be available until 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 8 for $15 for those 12 years and older. Children 11 years and younger may purchase a ticket at any time prior to the event for $2.
There will be no refunds for entry tickets. Rules will be available at the Rhinelander Lions Club fisheree headquarters and are available on the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce website.
Fishing entry tickets are available at Mel's Trading Post, West Side Shell, Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce, Kemp Street BP, Bait Shoppe, Hodag Pump and Pantry, Holiday Station stores, Kemp Street Marathon, River Street Tap, Flyin Finn, Hodag Mobile and The Fishing Hole.
On Saturday and Sunday there will be a $500 cash raffle prize, $200 and $100 prizes, and a paddle wheel event with merchandise prizes.
Money raised will go back to community organizations such as the food pantry, an eyewear fund for low-income families who are having a hard time purchasing eyewear, and Frederick Place homeless shelter, to name a few.
The snowshoe race is a 5K and the top three male and top three female winners will be awarded with gift certificates from Road ID. There will also be a 5K family race which is not timed.
There is a $15 charge for the competitive race and a $20 charge for the entire family to participate in the family race. If a single person wanted to run in the untimed race they would pay $20.
Mel's Sporting Goods will be at the race demoing snowshoes and will have between 10 and 20 pairs for people to try out.
"If you don't have any snowshoes and are looking to give it a try, this is a perfect event to get out there and give it a whirl," said Chris Cook, Wellness Director at the Rhinelander YMCA and an organizer of the snowshoe race.
The broomball tournament, to be held on Boom Lake, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. The winners will receive a golden broom and bragging rights for another year.
"We look forward to the community participation in it, and we thank the community for their past support of any Lions' organization," Romportl said.
The events are sponsored by Rhinelander Soccer Club, Mel's Trading Post, Rhinelander YMCA, Rhinelander area Chamber of Commerce and the Rhinelander Lions Club.
Registration for the snowshoe race can be completed at www.active.com.
For more information, call Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce at (715) 365-7464 or visit www.ExploreRhinelander.com.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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