Make plans to attend 2011 Bass Lake Ice Fishing Contest in Somerset

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Somerset’s Bass Lake Ice Fishing Contest has grown to become one of the biggest ice fishing tournaments in Wisconsin.

The seventh annual Bass Lake tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26. The tournament is a fundraiser for the Somerset Youth Athletic Association.

What started as a humble local tournament seven years ago has grown incredibly. More than 1,500 participants have competed in past years and more than $50,000 in guaranteed prize payouts are planned for this year.

“One look at the prize list answers the question as to why so many anglers would want to participate,” said tournament spokesperson Scott Thell.

Prizes will be awarded to the largest 50 fish of the day. The first place angler will drive home a brand new Dodge 4x4 truck with an MSRP of $27,900. Among the other prizes are a Canadian fishing package, augers, chainsaws, locators, fish houses and many more. There is also a separate youth division with youth-based prizes.

There are also on-ice raffles worth thousands of dollars in prizes and even a 50/50 raffle which awarded last year’s winner more than $3,000 in cash.

The contest is put on by the SYAA, a group of local residents who believe that through sports the youth of their community can be guided down a path of lifelong success.

“Over the past three years alone we have been very proud to give over $60,000 to local associations, clubs and school groups,” Thell reported.

The contest begins officially at noon on Feb. 26, but anglers will be allowed inside the contest area at 9 a.m to claim the holes of their choice. The morning of the contest volunteers will drill approximately 4,000 holes for the anglers to choose from.

Food and beverage concessions will again be available on the ice. When the event ends at 3 p.m., the real winners will be the youth groups of Somerset that will share 100 percent of the event’s proceeds.

To learn more about the contest or SYAA, visit www.basslakecontest.com.

Tags: sports, outdoors, fishing