So you think hardwater fishing is just another term for yapping, napping and imbibing? Think again.
Mlive.com reports that Keith Kniffen (son) of Eaton Rapids, MI and Ron Kniffen (father) of Lansing won an amazing $12,000 in the 12th annual Midwest Open Ice Fishing Tournament on Clark Lake – for a mess of three crappie and eight bluegills that weighed 5.59 pounds.
They also got the big fish, a “hefty” 1-pound crappie worth $200.
The next two guys caught 4.88 pounds and won $3,500.
Sounds like 150 teams competed, and “more than $40,000 was given out in prizes and merchandise.”
You mean to tell me that hardcore bassers can’t figure out how to catch more than 6 pounds in 5 hours and beat these hardwater guys? Or are the guys who won bassers?!
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From here:
> Check out this quote from Ron: “I drilled 700 holes in the ice over the last four days. We caught good fish when we did the pre-fish yesterday, and today.” [Good fish? Psyched that the guys won, but someone please tell me what I’m missing.]
> The tourney had teams from seven states and Canada (not surprised, look at that coin!), and some start prefishing in September.
> “This year’s event sold out in September, but Knutson predicts next year’s will be sold out before the end of the week. Even as the weigh-in was taking place, eager anglers were lining up to register and pay the fees for next year’s tournament.” [Now that is a program, people!]
2 Comments
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Brian
February 11, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Someone has to win the tough tourneys 🙂 I remember watching George Cochran in the 1987 Classic on the Ohio River win $50,000 for 15-05 over 3 days, which breaks down to 5.10 pounds per day, which only would have been enough for 2nd place in this ice derby. Plus they’re turning away competitors for next year with full fields – seems a lot of bass circuits should be studying their formula for success. Hard to draw even 75 guys on a lot of our state circuits now days.
Justin Clark
March 28, 2011 at 2:15 pm
The bass boys wouldn’t have a chance. lol
Ice fishing is a different ball game. And having to key in on two different fish species is very tough. Gills and Sunfish at that time of the year are in slightly different areas at that time of the year and there is little over lap.
That is lake pretty dang clear also, and many people where sight fishing. The basic idea of sight fishing is easy for people to get but to get on those large Sunfish 8 inches and up is another thing.I have jigged in front of a redear once for 30 min the fish was only a inch from the jig the whole time. You mess up just a little bit and that fish is gone and odds are you will not get it.
I am working on a book on this very topic. It is one of the few things I feel I call my self a specialist in.