Following last winter’s amazing event, Age Friendly Cold Lake is coming back with the second annual Cold Lake Ice Fishing Tournament in February 2022.
Last year’s registration reached the participation limit of 400 anglers. The 2022 tournament was announced November 4, and is already at 201 registered participants.
Cathy Aust of Age Friendly says that although the first tournament was held in a cold snap with overnight temperatures of -30C, it drew praise as a well-run event.
“Great prizes—that was the feedback we got,” Aust said. And this year the prizes will be even bigger.
The biggest fish of the tournament will earn its angler $5,000, with the two next-biggest winning $3,000 and $1,000 respectively.
There will also be daily prizes, and cash prizes for young anglers. One hundred per cent of the registration fees
will be paid out as prizes, Aust said.
The winning fish in 2021 was a 35-inch lake trout caught by Jason Laudin. Keira Kowalchuk won the youth category with a 29.5-inch fish.
The Cold Lake Men’s Shed has built a deluxe fishing shack, which will be raffled off at the tournament. Last year the shack was won by Bob Buckle, who donated it back to be offered again.
There will also be a 50/50 draw, Aust said.
Fishing begins at midnight on the morning of Friday, February 18. The designated fishing area includes all of Cold Lake. The tournament is catch-and-release using barbless hooks, and will be officiated by Angler’s Atlas.
Proceeds from the tournament will support Age Friendly Cold Lake programs and activities.