Competitors on Big Eau Plaine Reservoir in Wauwau, WI. Photos/Meredith Garcia, TakeMeFishing.org
On Saturday and Sunday on the frozen waters of Big Eau Plaine Reservoir in Wausau, WI teams from around the globe are competing in the World Ice Fishing Championship.
Conditions are rough with ice ranging between 16 and 20 inches thick. “A lot thicker than we’d like with hand augering,” Team USA Capt. Mike McNett said. The thick ice contributes to low oxygen levels. In the pre-competition rounds many of the fish are 11 to 15 feet deep.
The team that catches the most combined total weight of fish over the two day competition wins. At this time of year the anglers can’t catch bass, walleye or muskie. Pan fish including sunfish and perch are the initial target. Once you get your limit of legal fish you can really pack on the pounds with rough fish including carp.
Competitors on Big Eau Plaine Reservoir in Wauwau, WI. Photos/Meredith Garcia, TakeMeFishing.org
LOCAL CONTROL
McNett says he’s feeling good about the competition this year. Last year, Team USA came home from Kazakhstan empty handed. The only other time Team USA got a medal was on a home lake. “Home lake advantage plays a big role,” McNett said.
Competition rules ban electronics on the lake, so locals that explore the lake ahead of time get an edge. McNett expects the other competitors will follow the home team. “We will meander around a little bit then we will settle,” hoping they can get a bit of distance from the other anglers.
Interview with Mike McNett
TIPS, TRICKS AND GEAR
Stay warm:
- Sealed boots
- Layer, polar tech type of material and wool.
“Stay away from cotton. Worst thing you can do is to get too hot, once you sweat, you get the chills,” McNett advises.
Use wax worms when the fish are biting, the bigger bait can withstand multiple hits. Go with a maggot when things are slow, hook multiple maggots on at once to reduce the need to re-bait each time. Carry bait in a container near your body or some other place warm so it doesn’t freeze.
When overseas Team USA will use blood worms. Competition there is about smaller school fishing. Many times they just hold the line in their hand with no rod so they can catch as much as three fish in a minute.
VIEW FROM OUTSIDERS
Lauren Koshear, member of the MPR News Public Insight Network, asked McNett what he thinks if the greatest misconception about people who ice fish among those who don’t. McNett chuckled and said, “That we are all grumpy old men, and we are sitting in a shelter in our shorts drinking beer, eating bacon and smoking cigarets — and just partying. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”
Although he added that after the competition is over anglers get together and have a good party.
Related
BBC News: Kazakhstan hosts 2012 world ice fishing championship
Resource
TakeMeFishing.org
