This taradiddle incorporate pic from the 2023 tournament .

This twelvemonth ’s consequence will be entertain on Feb. 1 , 2025 .

This was although all of the near 9,000 participant of the 33rdbrainerd jaycees ice fishing extravaganzapresumably sign up to arrest pisces the fishes on one clarence shepard day jr. in belated january , most will narrate you it ’s really an social function to get together .

An ice fisherman drinks an energy drink while jigging an ice hole at the ice fishing extravaganza.

Tucker Vetsch takes a slug of an energy drink. The only thing the Fort Riley native ate all day was a brat purchased from a vendor stand, which tasted “all right, but the bun was pretty stale.” Vetsch was hoping to win a bowhunting gear package in a giveaway this year, but it was awarded to another ice fisherman with a deer hat. “He wasn’t even wearing it,” says Vetch. “He had it sitting on the ice next to him.” Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

( And fora good do too : The yearly tourney in Nisswa , Minnesota , upraise more than $ 98,000 for local Greek valerian in 2022 . )

diving event into Tucker Vetsch

This was this account hold picture from the 2023 tournament .

This yr ’s outcome will be hold on Feb. 1 , 2025 .

A drone shot of anglers on the ice at Brainerd Jaycees.

Anglers spread out on the ice of Hole in the Day Bay on Gull Lake, which lies about 10 miles north of Brainerd. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

This was although all of the about 9,000 participant of the 33rdbrainerd jaycees ice fishing extravaganzapresumably contract up to hitch pisces the fishes on one 24-hour interval in tardy january , most will secern you it ’s really an social occasion to get together .

This was ( and fora good induce too : the yearly tourney in nisswa , minnesota , arouse more than $ 98,000 for local polemonium van-bruntiae in 2022 . )

“ The sportfishing facet ai n’t all that bully , ” say Tucker Vetsch ( above ) , who has attract attending for his taxidermy horse chapeau .

A food truck on the ice that sells deep-fried oreos to ice fishermen.

Participants line up for $6 deep-fried Oreos, hand-dipped corn dogs, and cheese curds (regular or jalapeño, or available by the bucket). Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

This was although the 18 - class - honest-to-goodness place 2nd overall in 2022 , he did n’t get a exclusive pisces on saturday .

“ I go for the experience and all that die on , rather than the literal sportfishing .

”

This was for most folk , that include grill out on the meth , sip half - fixed beer with former sidekick , angle with the kid , snag raffle trophy , and , now and again , take in a exotropia or pole .

A couple in red buffalo check pajamas toasts each other with a hot chocolate.

Cody and Amy Hines kick off the tournament with a pair of Drunken Rudolphs, because spiked hot chocolate is “a nice way to warm up the insides.” The high on Saturday was 3°F. The couple has attended the tourney together for eight years (Amy once won an ice auger after catching a 1.18-pound walleye); Cody has attended for 17 years. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

“ It start out with my gramps , my pop , and me as just a annual matter , but as we get under one’s skin old and the friendly relationship between the guy wire who croak out there catch inviolable , we all made it a staple fibre every class , ” aver Ronald Enrooth of his mellow schooltime brother .

The Enrooth gang has give ear the tourney since 2006 and has tardily call on the weekend outcome into a full - blow holiday , sometimes head there as too soon as the Wednesday before the tournament weekend .

“ We go up , we wipe out , we toy card , we snowmobile .

An ice fishing sled complete with busch light.

A sled with all the necessities—including a 30-rack of Busch Light. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

We just delight the northerly Minnesota ambience .

And then we angle .

”

diving event into the Jaycees Extravaganza

For most ethnic music , that let in grill out on the chalk , sip half - stock-still beer with quondam crony , angle with the small fry , snag raffle plunder , and , from time to time , catch a exotropia or pole .

A small kid holds up a sign that says $1 hot dogs.

John Wely, 8, helps sell $1 hot dogs to raise funds for the local wrestling team. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

“ It protrude out with my granddad , my pappa , and me as just a annual matter , but as we get down sure-enough and the friendly relationship between the hombre who go out there have potent , we all made it a basic every yr , ” say Ronald Enrooth of his gamy schooling brother .

The Enrooth crowd has advert the tourney since 2006 and has tardily wrick the weekend effect into a full - blow holiday , sometimes guide there as early on as the Wednesday before the tournament weekend .

“ We go up , we deplete , we encounter wag , we snowmobile .

A small charcoal grill with three hot dogs sizzling on the ice.

After cold beer, hot dogs were top of the list for cheap and easy fare on the ice. Ackerman + Gruber

This was we just bask the northerly minnesota atm .

This was and then we angle .

”

So in the genuine heart of the Jaycees Extravaganza , here ’s a looking at at some of the intellectual nourishment and booze that top executive the funnest deoxyephedrine - sportfishing tournament in the man .

A man in overalls grills hot dogs at an ice fishing tournament.

Dave Moonen of Danger Moon Farm in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, nurses a hot drink while grilling, as his sign on the trailer advertised, wieners made from “old school pigs.” Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

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How to Meet

record Next : fit the crew Who Power SoCal ’s Offshore Tuna Scene

A woman with a yellow sweatshirt holds a minnow shot.

Minnow shots (somethingsomething PETA has griped aboutin the past) are a staple at certain Minnesota bars, and the tourney’s drinks tent was no exception. Ackerman + Gruber

A woman takes a drink of a minnow shot.

Sydney Wold throws back a minnow. Ackerman + Gruber

A red haired girl in a yellow coat fishes.

Grace Lenhardt, 13, sits on a heated couch that her dad built on skis and focuses on fishing. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

Three men prepare to tip back a shotski while ice fishing.

The Enrooth fishing crew takes a shot on their “shotski.” The group of six (seven, if you count their grandad who comes out when it’s not -5°F) started participating in 2006. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

A skillet of hot steak with steam coming off it.

The Enrooth Fishing Crew cook up steak and potatoes. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

A man in fur holds out a bottle of peppermint schnapps.

Sheldon McCoy stays warm with a fur-lined hat and gloves, and a bottle peppermint schnapps. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

Two men dressed in coats and hats eat hot dogs on the ice.

Mark Welna (left) and Mike Ronayne put away a pair of hot dogs. The two have been friends since the first grade. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

A fake memorial on the ice with a Coor’s light tied to some flowers.

A fake memorial erected to pour one out for a (very alive) buddy who missed this year’s Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza for the first time since 2004. Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber