Syracuse.com - Sodus Bay ice fishing derby offering $25,000 in cash and prizes

[HuntingNY-News]

The tournament director said he walked a total of four miles around Sodus Bay Monday and everywhere he went he found at least five inches of black ice. "There's no doubt. This tournament is going on," he said.

A large, two-day, ice fishing tournament this weekend on Sodus Bay will be giving away more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

The contest is part of the NYS Ice Pro-AM Tournament Series, said Tim Thomas, who is its president and chief executive officer. "We are holding the largest ice fishing event ever held on Sodus Bay," he said.

This weekend's competition will consist of two divisions: The Pro-Am Division and the Open Division.

Cost to compete in the Pro-Am division is $90 per two-person team. Individuals can enter for the same cost. The competition is based on a point system.

"It's a a two-day event. Each day, each team will bring in their largest northern pike, largest walleye and largest six perch and or panfish. Ten points will be awarded for the pike, ten points for the walleye and one point for each of the small species. One point per pound for the entire group of fish," Thomas said.

The team with the highest two-day point total wins, Thomas said. Prizes will be paid for the top five teams. "If we get more than 20 teams, it'll be the top 10," he said.

"Right now, the Pro-Am winning team will get a $2,000 package, consisting of $1,800 in gear and at least $200 in cash. The cash prize could increase, depending on the number of teams entered," Thomas said.

The entry fee for the open division is $40 per angler.

Thomas said prizes will be awarded to the top 10 anglers in four categories: largest northern pike, largest walleye, largest perch and largest panfish. Currently, the winner in each category will receive a $600 package, consisting of $500 in gear, and $100 in cash.

In addition to the prizes in each division, Thomas said, the tournament will be giving away at least one Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV, along with 65 door prizes with an average retail value of $100 per prize.

Anglers can register from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Sodus Point Fire Hall, 8364 Bay Street, Sodus Point. Weigh-ins each day will take place at the public parking lot at Sodus Point, and at the southern end of the bay in front of the Bay Bridge Sport Shop.

The awards ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Sunday at the public parking lot at Sodus Point.

The rules for the Sodus Bay competition are available on the series website. Questions? Call Thomas at 585-330-0494 or email him at [email protected].

The NYS Ice Pro-AM Tournament Seriest series initially featured three competitions on Chautauqua Lake, Sodus Bay and Tupper Lake. The first tournament, scheduled for last weekend on Chautauqua, was cancelled due to unsafe ice, Thomas said. The Tupper Lake contest is set for March 8-10.

Thomas said he walked a total of four miles around Sodus Bay Monday and every where he went he found at least five inches of black ice.

"There's no doubt. This tournament is going on. Lack of ice isn't going to limit us this time," he said.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog