|
|
Friday, January 18, 2008
|
|
Chill out anglers, it's on! Fishing fest snaps into solid footing Outdoors editor If one thing can be said about what appears to be a major cold spell, it's that it's good ice-producing weather.
And, now it appears, good sleeping weather.
"I'll sleep tonight, guys," Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said after checking ice thickness on Hole-in-the-Day Bay on Thursday morning - and giving the go-ahead for the 18th annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza.
In recent years, ice thickness on Hole-in-the-Day Bay - site of the event - and the status of the event as a whole have been a concern. A lack of ice and poor ice conditions forced the event to be moved from Gull Lake to Round Lake in 2006. And last year, mild temperatures had organizers holding their breath until Dahl gave the Extravaganza the nod the Tuesday before the Saturday event.
|
|
|
|
Brian Sedlachek, co-chair of the $150,000 Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, drilled a hole into the ice of Hole-in-the-Day Bay while Crow Wing Country Sheriff Todd Dahl watched Thursday morning. The testing group found an average of 17 inches of ice.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
|
|
|
|
|
But not this winter.
"We drilled four to five holes and the average was 17 inches, and a little more in some areas - I think the most was 19 inches," said Dahl, who along with Sgt. Scott Goddard of the sheriff's department and a handful of Jaycees members checked ice conditions Thursday. "There's always a concern, but right now, as we left the ice, we came to a consensus that it's a go."
Like last year, a minimum of 16 inches of ice was needed at the site for Dahl to give the go-ahead and issue a permit for the event. But this year's Extravaganza will be the fourth Saturday in January (Jan. 26) instead of the third Saturday of the month, as had been the norm. And with frigid temperatures forecast through the weekend - the wind chill could reach minus 40 Friday night into Saturday morning - ice conditions shouldn't be a concern.
"It's good news. I think it's a great thing for our area," Dahl said of the Extravaganza. "I think we were all breathing a sigh of relief."
|
|
|
|
After drilling a hole into Gull Lake ice Thursday morning, a member of the Brainerd Jaycees measured 17 inches of good ice.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
|
|
|
|
|
Nine days earlier, Dahl and the Jaycees found an average of 12 inches of ice on Hole-in-the-Day Bay. He was pleasantly surprised with the increase during that time. As were the Jaycees.
The Extravaganza typically draws more than 10,000 participants from around the country and the world. Mary Devine, marketing director of the Extravaganza, is confident those numbers will be as strong as ever.
"It's going great. Ticket sales are ahead of where they were last year at this time," Devine said. "I think people still like winter and want to get out and ice fish. And the fact that there's no uncertainty going into the week prior to the event ... I think the fact that you have almost 10 days to make arrangements to fish in the event will be good.
"We're excited that everything is moving ahead as planned."
For tickets or more information, go to www.icefishing.org or call (218) 824-9461.
BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
Loading...
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
