NAIFC 2007
Original Post:
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/fishing/?p=210
The “North American Ice Fishing Championship”. Where 75 teams from the 2007 season gathered to crown new champions at the conclusion of the season. Teams qualified at one of four events last year; Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Minnesota.
That’s where I was at last weekend, fishing in my second event in three years. The qualifier the one year I didn’t make it was canceled due to NO ICE on the lake. As I eluded to yesterday, it was a whirlwind trip because of my partner’s ill health. Thirteen hours driving on Thursday night to arrive in Alexandria, Minnesota Friday morning. Catch up on sleep, fished the 2 day tourney, then drive home again Sunday night. Where did all this white stuff come from?!!!
We stayed with the perfect hosts, a muskie fishing friend of mine, and his most gracious wife. There is something to be said for the kindness of farm folks, and Steve and Jeannie were the “tops”. That and the way they cook, haven’t had meals like that since I was bailing hay for old Willie Knapp at the dairy farm. It seems like every time I make one of these trips, I figure I will work off a few pounds traipsing around the ice, only to come home a little heavier than when I left Ida. The pups are helping me lose a few already! At least Bonnie came right to me when I got back, the beagles never left my dad’s side. Guess its true, ” the hand that feeds you”….. rotten dogs lol.
So….Friday, got the gear unpacked and dozed off for a bit. Hit the lake for a whole hour before coming back and getting cleaned up for the rules meeting that night at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria. “Alex” is roughly 2+ hours west of the Twin Cities right off of I-94.
Dave Genz, one of the leaders in the ice fishing community, if not the man responsible for the revolution in gear, concepts and making the two come together, lead off the event with the introductions.
We had several folks from the ice fishing production side of things address the qualifiers for the year end event. Spokespeople from Vexilar, StrikeMaster, CLAM and Lindy were there. Here is Doctor Roland Kehr, the chairman from Lindy. Known better as just plain Doc, he introduced the folks to the new “Rattlin’ Flyer Spoon”, being introduced from Lindy this season. It looks to be a good lure for slab crappie, perch and walleye. Coming in three sizes this season, and a smaller 1/16 oz size for next winter.
Besides the product sponsors doing their speeches, the rules being covered, and some yummy wild rice soup. The even finished off with the crowning of the ‘07 Team of the Year. This year’s winners were Joe and Myron. Going to skip the last names for fear of butchering them, but they clinched the title at last year’s Minnesota qualifier. Both being from the Brooklyn, Michigan area, they were one of 12 teams from Michigan who qualified for the championship event. That’s Joe on the left, Myron with the mic, Dave Genz in the background, and new tournament director Kolt Ringer on the right.
If you want to learn more about fishing the trap series, visit www.trapattack.com for sign ups, rules and where the qualifiers are.
Tomorrow will get into the day one event that was held on Saturday with some fresh pictures.
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