My First Fishing Derby Ever

I wrote this over at Bass Boat Central and thought it was worth sharing here:

My first ever tournament was a Boy Scout ice fishing derby on Beebe Lake around 1978 or so that was run by one of my Dad's best friends who was the Scout Master. I had not ice fished more than once or twice in my life prior; It may even have been the first time I was allowed to ice fish, but I don't think so. We didn't really have rods; we used a dowel with two pegs for wrapping the line on that had stiff fiberglass section with a rod tip. If you got a bite you just pulled the line in hand over hand the way people do with tip ups now. I don't think I had a bite that day. I remember being fascinated by a guy who had a small one man fish house and he was catching fish. All the fish houses I'd ever seen to that point were big one's for multiple people.

Holes For Hero's Ice Fishing Tournament Medicine Lake

Next Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM (CT) is the Fishing For Life Holes For Hero' Ice Fishing Tournament out on Medicine Lake.

Registration
Advance registration is just $5 per person. Same-day registration (walk-up) is just $10. Your registration helps provide free fishing opportunities for men & women who have served our country.
Military personnel and their immediate families can register in advance or day-of at no charge.
Online registration & advanced ticket sales will end on Friday, Feb 3 at 6 pm.

Prizes
Over $2,000 in prizes includin Frabill StormSuit, Aqua-Vue, HT Auger Set, Dicks Sporting Goods cards, Ice Hunter combo. Category prizes plus random drawings throughout the day.

Official Rules are found Here (PDF)