Chetek’s first ice fishing contest of 2023 is the Chetek Fire Department’s 29th annual Adult and Kids Ice Fishing Tournament on the Chetek Chain of Lakes Saturday, Jan. 21. As usual, the contest will land on Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend for the winter, which will be Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21–22.
The fishing contest will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in both adult and kids’ divisions for the following fish categories: northern pike, walleye, bass, bluegill, crappie and perch. The top three place winners (by weight) of each fish species in both the adult and kids’ divisions will be awarded prizes.
In the adult division, the first-place prize is $200, second place is $100, and third place is $50. Yet to be determined prizes will be awarded for first through third places in the kids’ division as well. All fish entered in the kids’ contest will win a prize. There will also be prizes awarded for rough fish caught and registered.
A reminder to anglers: you can only bring in legal fish to be weighed. No slot fish (walleyes from 20–24 inches) or under-size fish will be weighed. Ice anglers fishing for game fish can only register/keep walleyes that are 15 inches or longer (daily bag limit is three fish). However, there is a slot limit for walleyes on the Chetek Chain where fish that measure 20–24 inches must be released—these fish cannot be kept or registered—and only one fish over 24 inches is allowed. Northern pike measuring 26 inches or longer (daily bag limit is two fish) may be kept, as well as bass that are 14 inches or longer (daily bag limit is five fish).
Along with the fishing contest, participants will be able to take part in raffle drawings.
Raffle tickets will be sold for the event, where participants can win the grand prize, $5,000 cash. Second place is $3,000, third is $1,500 and fourth is $500. Tickets are six for $10 or $2 each. Raffle prizewinners need not be present to win.
Additional bonus raffle prizes will be drawn every half-hour throughout the day. Contestants must be present to win bonus raffle prizes.
There will also be several gun raffle prizes— two Del-Ton AR-15s, a Ruger AR-15, Tisas 1911 (.45 ACP) a Smith & Wesson 9mm (M&P Shield EZ), a Glock G30 .45 ACP, a Ruger Security-9mm. and Ruger 1911 (.45 ACP)—along with various raffle prizes available at $10 per chance.
Concessions, raffle boards and weigh-ins will take place on shore in the Pokegama Lakeside Cantina parking lot.
Following the 3 p.m. weigh-in deadline, winners of the fishing tournament along with raffle winners will be announced.
All proceeds from the ice fishing tournament go toward the Chetek Fire Department.
For more information, contact John VanBeek at 715-296-1598.
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