Fly Fishing In Yellowstone National Park: It's Here

Friday, January 13, 2017

It's Here

OPENING QUALIFIER

Limit = 150 Teams

ice fishing tourney

AT LEAST $14,000 UP FOR GRABS

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..This is the weekend when we see just who truly enjoys our community activities. It's impossible to live in our village and not play in our winter wonderland.
.. This is the first year that the National Ice Fishing Tournament kicks off in West Yellowstone. It's a tribute to the success of the past few year's events. (Official Website.)

JUST ABOUT PERFECT

.. The event here is two-thirds education and one-third competition. Tomorrow is kids day: education, free gifts and prizes, prospecting, and food and fun dominate.
.. The Kids Ice Camp is held at Kirkwood Resort & Marina. There will be two different starting times.

GET AFTER IT

.. The first group begins at 11:00 AM with Boathouse classroom instruction and demonstration of ice fishing equipment, techniques, and safety, conservation & environmental stewardship.
.. Then, everyone heads out onto the ice for demonstrations delivered by experienced, certified NAIFC Pro-Staff instructors.
.. A second group will start at the Boathouse classroom at noon, followed by the on-ice experience.
.. A free hot lunch will be served from 12:30-1:30 PM to all kids who participate in the camp. Before leaving, all kids who participate also will receive a complimentary ice rod and tackle.

.. Tonight starting at 5:00 PM at the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn Conference Center you can meet local fishermen familiar with Hebgen Lake as well as nationally ranked ice fishermen.
.. A social hour and informal introductory for people new to ice fishing is the game. Afterwards, people can go in groups with a pro-fisherman to a local restaurant or pub to “talk ice fishing” over dinner.

SPIT AND ARGUE WITH THE BEST

.. “Ice Fishermen Specials” are featured at local restaurants and pubs around town.
.. These group discussions, which are open to the public, are geared toward educating fishers and friends to the world of tournament ice fishing.
.. Also, tomorrow morning the serious stuff is introduced: meet tourney officials at the Kirkwood Marina. Starting around 8:00 AM, Pro-Staff and representatives from ice fishing product companies will be demonstrating the latest techniques and equipment on Hebgen Lake. This is where you can try out the newest ways to catch fish through the ice.

.. Registration for the tournament runs from 4:30-6:45 PM at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone. A complimentary dinner for all registered team members, with cash bar and Montana spirit tastings, will be available.

.. At 6:00 PM, there will be a presentation by nationally-ranked ice fishermen geared toward educating local fishers and friends to the world of tournament ice fishing.
.. The Rules Meeting, which is mandatory for at least one member of each team, starts at 7:00 PM. At the rules meeting, the exact starting time for the contest the following morning will be announced.
.. On Sunday the contest starts shortly after daylight with the exact starting time announced at the mandatory rules meeting.
.. Teams go out on the ice on Hebgen Lake from Kirkwood Resort & Marina in the order of their registration. Fishing continues until 1:05 PM, when all teams must be off the ice for the Weigh-in.
.. The Sunday weigh-in starts at 3:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in West Yellowstone.
.. Tournament winners are announced and awarded their cash prizes immediately following the weigh-in. Hang around for the cash bar and food - tell the stories.
.. This year the "KIDS AND SNOW" activities are especially exciting. Check out their website HERE.

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