MOOSE JAW — Grab your tackle box, bundle up, and get ready to drop a line with the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation (MJWF) this winter at the annual Youth and Family Ice Fishing Tournament that brings families together to connect, test their luck on the ice, and compete for exciting prizes.
The ice fishing tournament is open to guests of all ages will be held at the Buffalo Pound Provincial Park boat launch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.
“It’s our annual Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation Youth and Family Ice Fishing Tournament,” said Todd Smith, president of the MJWF. “It’ll be held at Buffalo Pound (Lake) in front of the Provincial Park, so it’s super easy for people to find us, and it’s pretty easy to bring your kids out to have a fun day fishing.
“If the weather holds like they’re calling for, it should be a beautiful day on the ice.”
To participate in the tournament, each adult angler must register with a youth under the age of 16. The reason for this, Smith explained, is to reinforce the tournament’s goal of spending the day together with families and to get more youths engaged in the sport.
Youth will compete in two categories with one for Perch and one for all other fish species, with prizes awarded to the top three anglers in each division. Meanwhile, adult anglers will compete for the biggest catch of the day with one grand prize up for grabs.
In addition to the fishing itself, there will be draw prizes and a sponsored lunch provided by Hub Meats. Everything is made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses including 306 Dustless Blasting and Sparkle and Shine Painting who helped sponsor the event.
“Winter takes up a good chunk of our season here in Saskatchewan, so if we can get more kids and families out fishing and enjoying our resources, we may get more future conservationists out of the deal,” Smith concluded, adding that the occasion also makes an ideal opportunity for families to create new memories together.
A cash-only payment will be taken on the ice when guests sign in and costs $5 per child, $20 per adult, and $50 per family.
Pre-registration closes at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, and is recommended to help ensure there will be enough food ordered for lunch. To sign up, email [email protected] and include the name and age of everyone you want to register.
If you missed the pre-registration date, Smith confirmed that you can still register on the ice at the start of the tournament.
For more information about the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation and its conservation efforts, visit the Federation’s Facebook page, ‘Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation,’ or its website at MJWildlife.ca.
