Bite the Ice looking for a few nibbles
By Jerry W. Kram
Last year Mother Nature blew up a blizzard to make the Annual Bite the Ice Fishing Tournament exciting. This year the weather should be cold but calmer for the hundreds of anglers expected to descend on the Van Hook Arm of Lake Sakakawea on Saturday.
Tickets sold out in the first couple of weeks after they were available, said Kristin Jaeger. Tournament organizers increased the number of $25 tickets from 800 to 1,000 last year. Organizers expect even more anglers may be on the ice than the 491 registered participant from last year.
Six dollars of the the ticket go towards the entry fee for the fishing tournament. The remaining $19 enter the buyer into a raffle with dozens of large prizes. All children 12 and underwho are ticket holders will receive a sweatshirt for participating.
There will be prizes for the longest walleye, perch and northern pike in the tournament, as measured by the tournament officials. Everyone who brings in another species will get a "junk bucket" ticket for a drawing for prizes.
