MANITOULIN—Time is running out to buy your tickets in time to be entered into the Manitoulin Ice Showdown early bird draw. Anglers have until this Friday, January 18 to purchase their ticket for the inaugural two-lake ice fishing derby and have the chance to win a cool $1,000.
Tickets for the derby are $100 and can be purchased at Up Top Sports Shop in Mindemoya, The Expositor Office and Breakaway Sports in downtown Little Current, at Wikwemikong Tourism, Your Dollar Store with More and Oak Ridge Place in Wiikwemkoong, at Trailside Sports, Fishy Fishy Bang Bang and Nick’s in Espanola, Moxy’s Bait and Tackle in Lively, Ramakko’s Source for Adventure in Sudbury and online at wiikwemkoong.ca. Once purchased, your ticket is good for fishing on either Manitowaning Bay or Lake Manitou during the Manitoulin Ice Showdown, February 9 and 10.
The rules are now available for the Manitoulin Ice Showdown and can be found at wiikwemkoong.ca or fishmanitoulin.com. Anglers should know that they must first register on the body of water on which they will be fishing that day and they must fish that lake for the duration of the day. Once an angler is checked in, they will be presented with two flags (participants may have two lines as per Ontario sportfishing regulations) that must mark their holes or be placed outside of their huts.
Only two fish can be weighed in each day of the derby.
“This is to ensure that not all of the fish are kept,” explained co-organizer Luke Wassegijig of Wikwemikong Tourism. “We want to be good environmental stewards and ensure that we respect the resource.”
Dave Patterson, who organizes the Manitoulin Expositor Salmon Classic, reminds anglers that the derby is not limited to any species but rather all of them. “Some might fish for walleye, others lake trout or rainbow, or some might bottom bounce for ling; whatever you think is going to win you the big prize.”
And speaking of big prizes, the Manitoulin Ice Showdown has them in spades. Each lake has its own prize schedule: first place, $5,000; second place, $3,000; third place, $2,000; plus, plenty of great prizes from fourth to 10th place thanks to some amazing sponsors.
Those who purchase their tickets by Friday will be entered into the early bird draw of $1,000 and all those who purchased tickets will be entered into the registration draw for a whopping $10,000.
And that’s not the only way to win, either. On Manitowaning Bay, 50 tagged rainbow trout will be released at Bayside Resort and Buzwah Fisheries, the first to catch a tagged fish wins $5,000. On Lake Manitou, a target weight will be announced just before the derby begins. The participant that catches the target weight will win themselves $5,000. The Pimp’d Hut is back this year as the Big Trout Contest eligible for any species of trout on either lake. The farthest travelled prize this year will include a half day fishing charter with Screeming Reels, two Salmon Classic Tickets, two nights accommodations with breakfast and dinner at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre and return passes aboard the MS Chi Cheemaun. Prizes will be given out with a light lunch at the Wikwemikong Arena from 2-4 pm on Sunday, February 10.
“The Manitoulin Ice Showdown has evolved from the Wiikwemkoong Ice Fishing Derby; we want to make sure that we carry on the tradition of giving away tremendous prizes and delivering excellent hospitality,” said Mr Wassegijig.
For those travelling from afar there will be exclusive derby rates at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre.
This year’s derby is different in that it’s not only open on two lakes, but its wide open to anglers to fish their favourite spots. Anglers are reminded to respect private property and that parking is limited in some areas.
“As a courtesy we will have 300 pre-drilled holes at Bayside Resort on Manitowaning Bay for those who want to fish but may not have the equipment, but other than that the bay is open for your choosing,” Mr. Wassegijig said.
There will not be pre-drilled holes on Lake Manitou, but the lake is also open for anglers to choose their posts as they please. Manitoulin Ice Showdown organizers remind those interested in participating that they must always exercise extreme caution before heading out on the ice. Should ice conditions be deemed unfit, the organizers will make the call the week before the event and offer ticket refunds.
For a full list of rules, visit wiikwemkoong.ca or fishmanitoulin.com. #fishon
