January 5, 2015 at 4:05 p.m.
Ice fishing tournament to benefit veterans
Ice fishing tournament to benefit veterans
By Kayla Thomason-
Fishing will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day will end with a raffle drawing at 2:30 p.m.
Registration will be available until the day of the event. Same-day registration will be available from 7 to 9 a.m. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children 9 and under.
If registering before the day of the tournament, call Mark Durkee at (715) 493-3176.
As people trudge along bundled up like Michelin men, setting up their shelters, drilling through the ice until water gushes up, and getting comfy for their day of fishing they can expect to see volunteers driving along with raffle tickets.
"We have two girls that go out on the ice on four-wheelers and they sell raffle tickets and that's a big draw right there, our raffle tickets," said Le Roy Eades, volunteer and building manager for the Rhinelander Veterans Center.
Tickets can be purchased for $1 per ticket, $5 for 6 or $20 for an armspan.
Raffle prizes include a diamond necklace, a sled of alcohol, a cosmetic basket and a $100 gas gift card.
Children who participate are eligible for prizes such as nets, jig poles, tip-ups, ice fishing buckets, lures and more.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle.
Those who are lucky enough to pull big fish from the icy depths have a chance to win prizes such as ice augers, jig poles, heaters, shanties and other sport-related items.
First- through fourth-place winners for the longest walleye, Northern, crappie, perch and bluegill will be eligible for the items.
While out fishing the scent of hot dogs, brats, chili, chili dogs, cheeseburgers and burgers may waft along on the chilly breeze. The food will be prepared by AMVETS and the NCO Club. Soda and beer will be available as well.
Four heated tents measuring 60 feet by 16 feet, will be available for people to warm up in.
AMVETS and the NCO Club's license allows 400 participants. Last year they nearly filled up all of the slots.
"It doesn't look like it, it's a big lake but you go out there and drive around on it and there's a lot of people out there," Eades said. "(The participants) love (the tournament), they really do."
Proceeds from the event benefit the Wounded Warriors Fund, the building fund to help renovate the veteran center, the baseball league they sponsor, and scholarships for Rhinelander High School and Tomahawk High School students.
To keep the tournament fair, there are some rules in place.
Holes may be drilled prior to 8 a.m. but hooks may not be baited until then.
Tip-ups must be left in the "up" position.
Those who are fishing in ice shacks will have their shacks checked the night prior. If the participant does not consent to the search they will be disqualified.
People participating in the fishing tournament must have their hand stamped before they start fishing.
Eades would like to thank all the sponsors for their help with the event.
Gold sponsors - those who donated $700 or more - are Local 15 USW, Louisiana Pacific, Rocky's Roadhouse, Rodeway Inn and Suites, Twin Bay Resort, and Trails & Tales Outdoors.
Silver sponsors donated between $500 and $700. They are Peoples State Bank, AmeriGas, Expera Specialty Solutions, Keck Construction, FMB Custom Embroidery, and WJJQ.
Bronze sponsors donated $250 to $500. They are A-1 Septic, IAM Local 1713, Local 248 USW, Prairie Rapids Tavern, General Beverage Distribution, Printpack, Lake Country Homes, Tomahawk's Touch of Gold, YLE Custom Fishing Rods, Walmart, and Central Beer Distributors.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.