Every winter thousands of Minnesotans head out on one of the 10,000 frozen lakes, for one of most common pass times, ice fishing. Yet, there is one particular day that gets over 10,000 fisherman and women on one lake at the same time.
Every year the Brainerd lakes area plays host to the largest charitable ice fishing contest in North America, the Brainerd Jaycee’s $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza. In the early 90’s the Brainerd Jaycees had a desire to develop a signature project that would raise money for local charities, provide avenues for individual growth, as well as draw people to the lakes area during the winter months. In January of 1991, the first contest was held on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day bay, with the intent to gather a couple hundred people to come out and fish for prizes, while making a donation to local charities in the process. The founders never imagined that the event would become the world’s largest ice fishing contest.
Since 1991, the Ice Fishing Extravaganza has continued to grow, into the event we see today. In the last few years, over 20,000 holes have been drilled across Hole in the Day bay, along with a large tent city being set up, and many other amenities laid out across the lake, to accommodate the nearly 12,000 people who will try their luck at catching the prize winning fish. Although the contest is named the $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza, the Jaycee’s chair says that the prizes given away total closer to $190,000. The prizes include a long list of things, such as a new truck, fish house, ATV’s, augers, $10,000 cash and much more. Yet the Extravaganza is so much more than the fishing and the prizes. Over the 26 years of hosting the event, the Extravaganza has raised more than 2.6 million dollars for local charities, with a major beneficiary being the Confidence Learning Center, a local camp for people with disabilities. The event is entirely volunteer run with over 200 people pitching in to help on the ice and the entire event is set up in just under two days. Along with this work done, there is a core committee of 30 members who put in nearly 2,000 hours throughout the year to plan and prepare for the event.
Although poor ice conditions have pushed this year’s event back to February 6th, the Extravaganza is still set to go for 2016, with everyone’s safety always in mind. This year’s event will get kicked off on Friday night at Grandview Lodge with a dinner and door prizes, with the main event to follow in the morning.
If you are going to be in the Brainerd Lakes area on February 6th, come on out and be part of the world’s largest charity ice fishing tournament!