Last week, we talked about the largest ice fishing contest in the world, the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.  Yet not far from this event, is a little smaller, but just as prestigious ice fishing tournament.  Located on Garrison Bay of Mille Lacs Lake, the Fishing for Ducks contest attracts thousands to the area, to try their luck at catching a prize worthy Mille Lacs fish.
Hosted by the Mille Lacs chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Fishing for Ducks contest began in 2005 and attracted 652 people.  Today, the event reaches numbers close to 2,500.  In the last few years, Ducks Unlimited volunteers drill nearly 5,000 holes across Garrison bay on Mille Lacs Lake, the night before the event, and then wait for the fun to begin.  Much like the Extravaganza on Gull, the prizes are a huge draw to the event.  The Ducks Unlimited event gives away $100,000 in prizes, including a new Chevy pickup or $20,000 cash, a new Ice Castle fish house, ATV’s, and of course much more.
Although all the hype about the event revolves around the prizes and fishing, the mission of Ducks Unlimited is so much more than that.  The overall goal is to raise money and support for waterfowl conservation.  Ducks Unlimited prides its self in continuing to support and protect wetlands for waterfowl, and since 1937 has conserved over 13 million acres nationwide.  Today, Ducks Unlimited has habitat projects in all 50 states, every province in Canada, and in key areas of Mexico and Latin America, and has delivered more than 20,000 conservation projects across North America.  As for the fishing contest on Mille Lacs, the Garrison chapter of Ducks Unlimited has raised nearly $250,000 since 2005 for waterfowl conservation, ranking them in the top 25 Ducks Unlimited Chapters in the United States.
This year’s event will take place on February 20th, with the “Friday Night Flight” kickoff party taking place at the Y Club Bar and Grill on Friday, February 19th.  The pre-event will include door prizes, silent auction, raffles and dinner and drink specials.
So if you’re in the area on February 20th, try your luck on Mille Lacs Lake, at the Fishing for Ducks ice fishing contest.