NAIFC

If there’s one thing true about America, it’s that we are a nation bent on technological advancement.  Fishing is no exception, and within all the various styles and types of fishing, ice fishing is certainly no wilting daisy.  Even just 20 years ago, power augers were a rare exception and most likely home made.  There certainly wasn’t the level of sophistication such as the sonar and underwater cameras commonly in use today.  Likewise, if there’s something to be said about European ice fishing, it’s that they still pull fish out of the ice using time honored, “legacy” techniques and equipment.  That legacy forms the foundation of world championship fishing.  The February 2009 World Ice Fishing Championship in Poland was the latest example, and the USA Ice Team was fortunate enough to re-discover amateur fishing after more than a decade absence from world competition.

The USA Ice Team, destined for Poland, knew to a man two things; first, that none of the team had ever competed in International-style ice fishing, and second, that while they all might be old hands at tournaments in the States, they had no idea what to expect in Poland as far as the reception we would receive.  There had been a lot of speculation, both in internet forums and via word-of-mouth, that, since we never fish like the Europeans, we were going to face a humiliating doom.  The team was intensely aware of what an honor it was to represent the US in competition, and that they would be facing the best in the world – many of them having medaled more than once.  Only three members of the team had ever been outside the United States in their lives (and that’s counting team coach Greg Wilczynski, who was born in Poland) and one member of the Ice Team had never even been on a plane.  It was a sure bet to be an unforgettable adventure.

Every member of the team felt a sense of hushed awe and responsibility, with one comment from videographer Kelly Gotch summed it up pretty well,
“I have never been more proud of the USA.  We were noticed for being a strong, well-rounded team and we were liked by everyone.  Though our backgrounds, cultures and the words we speak are different, we all love the sport of ice fishing.  The 2009 WIFC in Poland proved that fishing is a universal language.”  Mike Boedeker, NAIFC competitor and one of the select fishermen on the Versus! Network Ice Men series, had this to say following his experience in Poland;

“Last February I had the honor to fish for the United States against some of the finest fishermen and women in the world.  The experience is one that I will never forget.  The format of the world championship is very different from what we, as Americans, are used to.  Instead of quality, the name of the game in Poland was quantity.  You put as many fish on the ice as fast as you possible can.  The size of the fish was almost irrelevant.  Therefore, our success was based on how fast we could adapt our tackle and techniques to the size and types of fish that were present.  I was impressed with the camaraderie of all the competitors and their willingness to share their knowledge, even though most didn’t speak English.  As luck would have it, our two oldest and most experienced fishermen finished with the highest overall weight for the USA Ice Team.  I urge everyone to try out for this years’ team – it will be something you will never regret or forget!”

Like anything fascinating and mildly complicated, the USA Ice Team Qualifier Rounds have rules, policies and various requirements.  Interested fishers should direct their attention to www.usaiceteam.com to find all the information they need.  Once there, you’ll find various things like the schedule of qualifying rounds at Aberdeen SD, Chippewa Falls WI, Hamlin MI and the final event at Rhinelander WI (who also have the pride and honor of hosting the 2010 7th World Ice Fishing Championship, March 13-14, 2010), how baits are limited, how the fish are collected, how international scoring rules apply and much more.

Bait is a hot topic in Europe, with much experimentation and money spent in attempts to divine the absolute best attractants for fish.  In many ways it rivals the efforts here in the US that hunters put into deer scent.  Since much of our fishing research efforts goes into artificial baits and lures, the Europeans definitely have an edge over us in this category of fishing analysis.  The Europeans also use restricted amounts of groundbait (Attractants) as they call it, which is somewhat problematic here in the US, and will be especially so at the World Championships in Rhinelander.  No freely dropped chum or fish entrails will be allowed.  Groundbaiting will be allowed in limited amounts and this is certainly going to add a level of difficulty that neither the USA Ice Team nor the Europeans have had to deal with before.  Groundbaiting methods used may also be very specific to the species of fish and even to how the younger, smaller fish react as opposed to how the larger and more mature fish react.  It’s a significant portion of getting into the psychological and sociological minds of the fish, and at this stage it’s impossible to know what the fish will think of it.

In addition to the special bait requirements, another special interest item foreign to most competitive ice fishers is the rule requiring competitors to mark the holes they are currently fishing with flags.  International rules stipulate that fishers may only occupy two holes at a time, and that those holes must be marked with flags.  If a fisher decides to move to a new area, they must take their flag and place it first before drilling.  This is tricky in the heat of competition and an easy mistake to make.  If a competitor drills and breaks through the ice without first placing a flag, it is immediate grounds for an official warning and possible disqualification.  Of key interest in the whole idea of the use of flags is that fishers are limited in how close they may be to another fisher’s flag (usually five meters / twenty feet).  This makes the use of flags somewhat strategic in that a fisher may find a sweet spot and try to capture the whole area by carefully placing his or her flags to keep competitors away, or, may have discovered that the fish are moving from one area to another and may run back-and-forth between flagged holes as the bite moves on and off each area.  This method was observed in the Polish WIFC where it was used to great effect by several of the top fishers.

So, if you enjoy running full-tilt around several thousand square feet of ice and hand drilling dozens of holes through a couple feet of ice, this winter workout regimen is for you!!  Seriously, if you think you’re ready to set aside your quad or snowmobile, your power auger, your flasher, your spinning jigs and everything else that isn’t “old school”, there’s only one way to find out if you’ve got what it takes to compete at the World Championship level – and that’s at the USA Ice Team Qualifier Rounds!  Remember too, the Team needs top supporters as well as top fishers.  Even if you compete and fail to qualify, we still need you.  It’s a team effort; not just the USA Ice Team but Team USA, and that means all of us!  Those who don’t compete can still be part of the observation and information gathering process, and most certainly part of the fundraising process.  Information and funds gathered will not only help the USA Ice Team, but also go to help the entire process of continuing current projects and training up-and-coming fishers through the NAIFC Ice Camps and other youth fishing efforts currently underway or on the drawing board.

You know you’ve got what it takes!  What’s holding you back?  Don’t have all the fancy gear like the NAIFC champs and the Ice Men?  Come out to the USA Ice Team Qualifying tournaments and prove you’ve got it… “Old School Style!”  And for your buddies who might harass you about it, remember that this is the closest you can get to fishing under the same rules and expectations as Olympic-style competitors, so if you can compete and qualify for the USA Ice Team – you’re ready to meet the world – and say “BRING IT!”