There's an old saying that states that there is more than one way to skin a cat. The Sault Area Sportsmen's Club,
Sault Printing,
Lake Superior State University Fisheries and Wildlife Club and the
Bay Mills Resort and Casino are proving there's more than one way to help kids, too.
A new ice fishing contest will be held this weekend on Waiska Bay, commonly known as the Back Bay, with 30 percent of all proceeds going toward the cost of stocking and maintaining Kids Fishing Pond at Rotary Park in Sault Ste. Marie. The pond is open to all kids, 16 and under, and is stocked with rainbow trout--a endeavor that comes with a considerable cost. Fish were as high as $3 each last year and the monthly fee to ship 500 trout to Sault Ste. Marie from the fishery costs right around $300.
Contest organizer Roger Greil, who is a member of the Sault Sportsmen as well as manager of the LSSU Aquatic Research Laboratory, is asking fishermen to help out the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority while they're fishing.
"If you catch and keep a walleye, please help with fisheries research by donating the head and carcass after the fish is filleted," Greil said. "CORA staff are looking to evaluate their walleye stocking program in Waishkey Bay and they use the ear bones and spines for that evaluation. People working at the weigh-in tent will be happy to clean your walleyes to assist in this study."
The first-ever "Bay of Perch" contest will be held Feb. 19 and 20 with cash prizes for anglers hauling in the largest yellow perch, as well as prizes for walleye and northern pike.
Entry fees for the contest are $20 for adults and $5 for kids. Entries may be purchased in the Sault at Woody's One-Stop, and Wild Bill's Tackle, in Pickford at Wilderness Treasures, and in Brimley at Cozy Inn. Tickets sales will end Saturday, Feb. 19.
The contest starts at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, and ends that day at 6 p.m. It picks up again at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, and runs until the contest ends at noon. The weigh-in station is open from noon-1 p.m. and 5-6:15 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Sunday. An awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m.
Complete rules can be found at places where tickets are sold, along with further details on prize structure and boundary maps.
For more information, contact Greil at 906-632-4492 or Derek Myerscough at 906-748-1259.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Roger Greil, Sault Area Sportsmen's Club
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