Extravaganza Week! Free Lake Maps!

[Sportland_Bait]

I think this is shaping up to be one of the best Extravaganzas ever. We have the ice and the fish, plus the weather looks like it is going to get a little nicer for Saturday. We always get pretty excited for this weekend each winter. It really gets the juices flowing again. This whole week we will prepare for a crazy two days here at the shop. It reminds me a little of the walleye opener in May. Everyone has great anticpation that this might be their year. Who knows? Everyone has a chance and luck plays the most important factor. That and great bait from Sportland, just kidding. Like always we will run the extra hours and have free lake maps of the contest on the counter. I re-did the maps this year, making them a little easier to read. We hope to see you all this weekend and we want to wish you the best of luck.

How many contests for you guys/gals? I think I have been there for most of them. Has anyone been to all of them? How bout any first timers? It would be cool to see how many FMers make it each year.

Jason Erlandson

[cueball]

First timer here, from ND and I don't get your way enough so I was just wondering if you would be able to give any helpful advice on what to expect this weekend? Times to be on the ice, bait, ect...

I know that the fishing spot has a pretty good depth variety from 10' to 60'. But what I dont know is if the bottom is rocky, weedy, muddy, or is it all of the above depending on where you fish?

Just a heads up would be nice.

[Sportland_Bait]

Well hopefully you experience beginners luck. Winning fish have come from many depths anywhere from 10 feet out to the deepest in the contest area. The area is a flat where fish tend to roam. Bottom content is mostly hard bottom consisting of sand, gravel, and scattered rock. There may be some light weedgrowth in the shallower areas but nothing real heavy. I would bring your typical walleye and perch fishing set ups. Small to med. jigs or jigging spoons work well tipped with a minnow or minnow head. For minnows I recommend shiners, rainbows, or fatheads. Some anglers will concentrate on trying to catch perch, tullibee, or rock bass. For these three I would go a little smaller and use a wax worm. As for the needed gear I have a good thread on this board featuring the must haves. I usually head out there between 9-10:30 am. There are always plenty of holes. Just bring your luck and dress warm. Have fun, it is a great time out there.

Jason Erlandson

[ROOOOSTERFISH]

First timer and hooping I will not be a last timer!!

Daryl Ekstrom

[ROOOOSTERFISH]

Ooops, please escuse the grammer.

Daryl

[junior9]

Where are the rules posted? Are you only allowed to fish one hole? How about electronics...can you bring the Vex along? Also, if you get there at 9, but can't fish till noon, who monitors that and how?

Also, what do most people bring with them...do you pull out a small sled, or just a bucket with your stuff?

Thanks

[brainerdwalleye]

1 hole per ticket. you can bring electronics. most people bring what they can fit in a bucket. including a small chisel.

[Camp Bob]

Junior9, the rules are listed on the Ice Fishing Extravaganza web site. The chisel is important, makes it easier for you to move holes and change strategies. As far as monitoring, the site is divided into 4 areas. There are roughly 40 volunteers in each area serving as officials. Not all of them are wearing vests so you just never know if they are watching you. If they see you with a line in the water or anything else suspicious, they'll check you and if your breaking the rules, there are no warnings...you just wasted your entry fee. It's actually pretty well controlled and polygraphs are issued each year. To date, nobody has failed.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'll be out there for the first time saturday... wish me luck!

[Sportland_Bait]

Hey Deitz, The more the merrier. Good luck. I think you will have a great time. Don't forget to get a couple of raffle tickets too. Lots of awesome prizes available. Stop by if you get a chance.

Jason Erlandson

[jimmy40]

I have never fish this contest and was thinking of coming up there on sat. I have a couple of questions. I have a couple of sons that want to come, they are 11 and 17, would they be able to fish the contest? I would coming from Owatonna, mn., where would the best place to park and get bait when we get there on sat morning? Thanks in advance, Jim.

[Camp Bob]

Jim, yes the Extravaganza is open to all ages, glad to hear you will be involving your sons. There is a special youth ice fishing obsticle course that will run from 9:00 - 11:00am. The first 150 or so youth under the age of 14 will automatically win a prize bucket valued around $150. Get your investment back before the tournament starts if you can make it in time. I'd visit S & W bait just south of the Extravaganza site. Parking is at Brainerd International raceway and the shuttle busses will run you back and forth. It's really pretty simple and well signed. Good luck and have a great day with the kids!!

Bob

[Sportland_Bait]

Hi Jim, you guys will have a blast out there. Kids usually have a great time hopefully you guys will hook into a big one. When you guys are driving up Saturday morning there are a couple of places to park and ride the shuttles. The one that is the least crowded and closest to the contest area is at the stoplights just north of the contest area. As you drive by Gull Lake you'll see the contest festivities, take a right at the next set of stoplights. It is about 2 miles north of the contest. The parking/shuttles are at the church and we are at the bait shop right across the road. We can help you get all set up and maybe offer a few tips. Just have fun and you will be coming back year after year. It is truely one of a kind. Good luck.

Jason Erlandson

["another IT GUY"]

first timer here also will probably not be the last! Coming up with a crew of 10 guys and girls. You got me confused? We can hole hop??? or are you talking about fishing two holes? Hope to see everyone there and will have a good time! Good Luck everyone!

[shadow886]

please people read the rules at icefishing.org It will clearly state what you keep asking.

one hole per ticket.

all rules inforced.

bring a chisel.

no bait provided on ice.

goes on and on.

[Sportland_Bait]

You can hole hop but you can only fish one line per ticket. If you buy two tickets you could fish two lines. Good luck.

Jason Erlandson

[jimmy40]

Thanks for all your input. We can buy our tickets right at the event when we get there right?

[jimmy40]

Hey jason, will you be able to set us up with some winning bait? thanks in advance, Jim.

[Sportland_Bait]

Hi Jim, You can buy tickets out on the ice at the contest. The minnows that we have for this weekend have been training all year for this event. We'll do our best to sell you the winners.

Jason Erlandson

[shadow886]

trust me the using a hotdog in 50 to 60 feet of water. Is going to catch you the winning fish. Cheetos will only get you perch.

[Sportland_Bait]

Shhhh! You don't want to be giving away the secret bait.

Jason Erlandson

[jimmy40]

Thanks for the advise Jason, Is their any one up there that sells Strikemaster bibs, I'm looking to pick up some. thanks, Jim.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Jason- If I am in the area I will for sure say hello!.. Thanks for the luck.. I'll need it. 8-)

[Sportland_Bait]

Hi Jimmy, I do not recall seeing any of the Strikemaster bibs anywhere. The most common ones in the stores around here are the Ice Armor and the Arctic Armor suits. It might be worth a stop on your way up maybe the Cabelas in Rogers, or the Sportsmans Warehouse in St. Cloud. Now that Reeds has left Baxter some of that stuff is harder to get up this way.

Jason Erlandson

[MINNKOTA]

Hey Camp Bob,

Good Luck with the contest this year I sure will be missing it. I am coaching one of my daughters Basketball team.

Marty

Chaska Jaycees

[FishPiCkLeS]

This weekend is going to be my first time.... (in this contest that is...) Ha, anyway.... I was just wondering what the story is about parking near the site. I see that there are shuttles from all over the county converging onto the grounds. I'm thinking I'm not going to be a "shuttle type" of guy. I was planning on possibly staying on the lake on Saturday night after the contest.

Is there another landing nearby where I could park my vehicle, and unload my gear onto my 4-wheeler? That way I could just cruise across the lake and park on the shore someplace... Is that a possibility? I'm just not sure the rules about getting onto the grounds of the contest. I know you cant park inside the tournament area, but would I be able to park outside it on the shore someplace?

[CrappieAttitude]

Where can you find the listings of where the shuttles are coming from? I couldn't find them on the website.

Does anyone know if there is a shuttle that comes from the North as well as the one from BIR? I won't be able to fish the contest, however it would be nice to go see all the activity for a while. I really don't want to mess with all the traffic if I don't need to. Didn't they run busses from Shaeffers last year?

CA

[BKB]

There is one that goes out of the church parking lot across the street from Sportland, much less hassle than BIR I think.

[The Crumpler]

I think Zorbaz is running a shuttle as well.

[Sportland_Bait]

Sorry I couldn't reply earlier today, it has been pretty crazy at the store. They do have the shuttles running from the church here across the road from our bait shop. From what I have observed it seems to run real smooth at the church. They never run out of space and I never see anyone waiting. The busses keep running non stop. I think it is a great deal for anglers. Well I gotta go see you all tomorrow. Good luck.

Jason Erlandson