NAIFC

Last week, the CIPS / FIPSed Congress in Dresden, Germany announced that the United States has won its bid to become the host country for the 2010 World Ice Fishing Championship.

WIFC organizers, in cooperation with The USA Ice Team, have chosen Rhinelander, Wisconsin as the official location of the 2010 WIFC event. (more…)

Ice Fishermen Warned of Carbon Monoxide Dangers When Using Portable Propane Heaters Inside Shelters

As thousands of anglers head out onto the frozen lakes this ice fishing season, the Camp Safe Coalition reminds them to keep safety in mind when using a portable propane heater inside an ice shanty or fish house. Using heaters that are not designed for indoor use in an enclosed shelter could place ice fishermen at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning-related fatalities, such as the recent tragedy in Minnesota, have been a wake-up call to ice fishing enthusiasts everywhere, and we urge everyone to fish and camp safely this winter,” said Dennis Pavan, a spokesman for the Camp Safe Coalition. “We urge fishermen and campers to read their heater packaging and operating instructions carefully and only use heaters that are approved for safe indoor use.” (more…)

Best ice fishermen in the nation to be at Lake Osakis on January 4.
by Karin L. Nauber, Staff Writer, Independent News Herald

Carrin Baker, age 9, taking the hook out of a blue gill's mouth during the NAIFC qualifying event held last year on Chisago Lake. This tournament is open to everyone.

If you are a fisherman or woman, you probably have a story to tell about the one that got away and maybe about the one that didn’t, too. It’s the one that doesn’t get away that is going to be important to local and from around the nation fishermen and women on January 4 on Lake Osakis at the Head of the Lakes Resort. On January 4, the NAIFC (North American Ice Fishing Circuit) will hold its first tournament for 2009 on Lake Osakis. This is quite a big deal for ice fishermen and there is a lot of money at stake, too.

Kevin Winkler of Browerville, along with others, helped get the tournament to come to the area. He said that it was important for local fishermen to realize that this tournament is open to everyone. “It’s not just open to people who have fished past tournaments. It is open to anyone–everyone. There are a lot of good fishermen here in these local communities. Some of them are fishing icons in the community and it is open to them. It is open to children, to adults, to everyone,” he said. Winkler is excited about the tournament and the fact that it is so close to home. (more…)