The America’s Ice Fishing Tournament is marking its third annual event with a massive expansion.
Hosted by the Brainerd Jaycees, the event has had entrants from New York and Idaho in the past. Registration is open to virtually anyone. And according to the 2023 chairperson, Mandy Dens, it is now open to anyone virtually.
“(The event) is open to the entire ice belt of the United States,” Dens told the Brainer Dispatch. “So anywhere in America that you can ice fish, you can participate in our tournament.”
The event is currently scheduled to take place on Feb. 4 from 8 am-3 pm. Virtual anglers will have to interact through the FishDonkey app. Rules indicate that the eligible tournament entries are walleye, northern pike, crappie, perch and sunfish.
This year the event boasts a prize list totaling over $20,000.
Dens said that contestants are eligible to win one of 50 prizes, and that this year the level of value has been increased.
“The prizes are bigger this year,” Dens said. “Last year, some of our prizes were $50. And this year, the minimum is $100 per prize.”
Registration for America’s Ice Fishing Tournament is available at virtualicefishing.org and the event page on Facebook offers frequent updates.
