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Friday, January 22, 2010

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It could be a record year

BRAINERD JAYCEES ICE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA

By BRIAN S. PETERSON

Outdoors Editor

It's safe to say that the success of the 2010 Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza was all but guaranteed by Dec. 1. The icing on the cake - or rather, the lake - came about a month later.

Now, if the event can dodge another form of ice.

The "20 For 20" promotion - tickets priced at $20 for 20 days through the end of November to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Extravaganza - was a huge success, said Mary Devine, Extravaganza marketing coordinator.

"We had a huge success with the $20 tickets for the 20th anniversary," Devine said. "It's why we've had so much success."

Although sales numbers are still unofficial, "We're safely over 8,500 (tickets sold)," Devine said. "We sold 6,500 tickets for the '20 For 20.' In the first part of November, we had so many people purchasing tickets. And it's not unusual for us to have 3,000-plus people buy tickets on Friday and Saturday."

Mary Devine, marketing coordinator for the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza, spoke with a reporter Thursday at Hole-in-the-Day Bay, site of Saturday's Extravaganza. Media from across the country - and the world - are expected to converge on Gull Lake for the 20th annual event. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson

As a result, the Extravaganza could best the previous record of about 12,000 in Saturday's 20th annual event.

If the weather cooperates.

Yes, temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees for Saturday's Extravaganza - a major improvement over last year, when temps were well below zero and clearly affected attendance. But a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow is likely Saturday, although Devine said she doesn't see that being a big problem.

"I think more people are concerned with the air temperature," she said. "If it's nice, people will come up, unless it's something crazy, like if it storms in North Dakota and they have to shut down the interstate in Fargo. That definitely would be felt because we get a lot of people from the Dakotas."

Highs have been in the 20s and low 30s for much of the last week-plus, which in previous years may have been cause for concern in regard to ice thickness. But a major cold spell in early January guaranteed the event would go off as planned. A final check Tuesday by the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department found 17 inches of ice in one spot and 22 in another at the contest site on Gull Lake's Hole-in-the-Day Bay, more than enough ice to renew the permit for the event.

All that's left is three hours of fishing - the tournament runs from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday - for 150 prizes totaling more than $150,000. The angler catching the biggest fish again wins a pickup, although for the first year, the winner has a choice: a 2010 Ford or GMC.

Place-winners are determined by weight of the fish - any species - although the value of the prize isn't necessarily determined by the weight of the fish. For example, while second place is a Suzuki 750 King Quad ATV, 18th place is a $2,500 Cragun's vacation and Suzuki 450 King Quad ATVs will be awarded for 20th, 40th, 50th, 80th, 100th, 125th and 150th place. But that randomness has been popular with Extravaganza-goers.

Workers unloaded and set up portable toilets Thursday for Saturday's Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake's Hole-in-the-Day Bay. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson

And then there's the Lindy Big Fish Bounty. In celebration of the 20th year of the Extravaganza, catch the 20th-place fish on a Lindy Darter and the prize will be upgraded to $3,000 cash.

"No. 1, we have one of the best prize lists around," Devine said of the enduring popularity of the event. "There's no other tournament that compares that has $150,000 and up in prizes and 150 places. And other tournaments do it different with species ... Here it's just weight. It's kind of a luck factor people have fun with."

All money raised from the tournament goes to local charities - mostly the Confidence Learning Center.

"They like to support it because the money is going to charity," Devine said. "And the reputation has grown as being a fun tournament and a fun place to be."

Technology also has made a difference. Devine said the Extravaganza has more than tripled its number of Facebook "friends," from 250 last year to 827 this year.

"And the underwater camera is back so you can monitor it on the Web site (www.icefishing.org)," Devine said. "That's been fantastic. There was a time (last year) when we were getting so many hits it was bogging down the signal.

"And there's a mobile phone Web site for those who have smart phones so they can check the leaderboard without have to go to the leaderboard (icefishing.org/mob)."

Also Saturday, with the success of the Vikings this season - they play New Orleans on Sunday in the NFC title game - the Extravaganza will have what it's dubbing "The World's Largest Vikings Tailgate Party."

"We really want people to come out and wear their purple pride," Devine said. "In 1998 we did a similar thing. There was enough snow that they were able to construct a 30-foot helmet. I don't know if we'll be able to do that this year."

Devine said $1,000 in cash and prizes will go to the top three Vikings-themed individuals, groups or camps.

Said event chairman Brent Morris: "What's more Minnesotan than the Vikings? We'd like to think ice fishing."

Tickets are no longer available online, but may be purchased at numerous outlets in the Brainerd area. For a list of outlets and more information, go to www.icefishing.org.

BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.

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