More than 1,100 Ice Fish Fest participants break attendance record

Event workers were out before sunrise drilling more than 1,500 holes on the frozen surface of Catfish Bay for this year's Ice Fish Fest.

Between 1,100 and 1,200 people entered the three-hour competition Saturday, setting a new record.

"We officially became the largest ice fishing event in South Dakota today," said Catfish Bay owner Jim Bruns. "To get that amount of people in here in a short amount of time, it's like putting 10 pounds of stuff in a five-pound box. We filled that five-pound box today."

A large portion of the participating anglers see the event as a family affair, something Bruns said he encourages. Children as young as 2 years old joined their families on the ice, with older kids getting a rod and hole of their own.

"It's something to do in the wintertime," said Melissa Breit, who took her two daughters ice fishing for the first time this year. "Both my daughters were really excited when I asked them."

More than $25,000 worth of prizes were available to entrants in adult, teenage and child divisions, including a $5,000 cash prize for the largest fish. Smaller prizes went to the largest of each fish species, including walleye, bass, perch, crappie and bluegill.

Tom Meyer, a Catfish Bay volunteer, said the range of ages and expertise is what makes this particular tournament so special.

"The kid with his grandpa holding a pole for the first time has just as much a chance of winning as the people with thousands of dollars of equipment," he said.

Proceeds raised at the annual Ice Fish Fest support maintenance and programs at Catfish Bay.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Anglers compete in annual ice fishing tournament