For the event, which dwarfs anything in ice-happy Wisconsin, augers drill more than 20,000 holes in the frozen lake, for more than 10,000 anglers to hook, line and sinker the fish below. The winner takes home a new truck.
Sara Dusbabek, a Minnesota resident who’s been attending the charity event for 20 years, says that she’s more interested in camaraderie than prizes. She and her family set up a fishing site with a radio, a grill and even a portable bar.
“We have our own fishing team complete with a team flag,” she says. “We meet different people every year.” ◆
Q: Does the ice ever give way?
A: Even with all those people, trucks and grills, the ice has never cracked in the event’s 30-year history, according to Shane Meyer, event chairperson. “[We] closely monitor ice conditions,” Meyer says. “Safety is our number-one priority.”
