By Steve Weisman

For the second consecutive year, the North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) will be holding one of their qualifiers on West Okoboji’s Little Emerson/Big Emerson Bay. Scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2020, the tournament will be the highlight of a weekend devoted to ice fishing activities. The tournament competition will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday with the indoor weigh-in taking place at 2 p.m. at the Hutt Bar & Grill in Arnolds Park. The top five places automatically qualify for the NAIFC Championship.

The NAIFC tournament series constitutes multi-day, qualifying premier fishing events held in several states across the ice belt beginning in January and lasting into March with the Championship held the following December. Jack Baker, NAIC Tournament Director, anticipates a great qualifier. “We’re excited to be coming back. West Okoboji is a great place to be, the bluegill numbers and size are excellent and our anglers love coming there.” To register for Okoboji Qualifier, anglers need to register online at www.naifc.com

For the second consecutive year, the host bait shop will be Stan’s Bait and Tackle. Baker adds, “Stan’s is a great bait shop and partner with the NAIFC. We’re happy they will again be the host bait shop.”

Travis Harman, owner of Stan’s Bait and Tackle, is also excited for the tournament. “We’re glad that the NAIFC is back. It will be interesting to see how this year goes. It’s early and the ice is just getting safe enough to get on Emerson Bay, but we have been seeing a lot of really nice 9+ inch bluegills coming out of Little Emerson.”

It is a partner tournament with a team entry fee of $250. Up to 100 teams can fish the qualifier. Last year 41 teams competed. On Saturday, a special high school qualifier will take place from 8 a.m. to noon with weigh-in at 12:30 p.m. The top two teams will advance to the High School Championships in December of 2020.

This year’s rules include fishing only in the Emerson Bay/Little Emerson Bay area. Teams can combine to bring in their best weight of 16 bluegills. This is a little different from last year, when teams could bring in their best 10-fish weight of both bluegills and crappies.

Throughout the week, expect to see tournament anglers pre-fishing in search of those big bull gills for which West Okoboji is so famous. Below will be the schedule for the entire weekend including a special kids’ organized afternoon at the lake on Saturday:

Friday, January 18

• Meet and greet at The Hutt Bar & Grill from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Open to both contestants and the PUBLIC. A chance to meet the pros and also watch as NAIFC Pro Staffers explain and demonstrate the basic skills needed and techniques used in ice fishing. Designed for the beginners and intermediate fisherman, Ice Fishing Fundamentals will provide basic skills used by every fisherman.
• Registration for high school teams and also late registration for Sunday’s teams.

Saturday, January 18

• High School Competition on Little Emerson Bay from 8 a.m. to noon. Weigh-in will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Camp Okoboji Discovery Center.
• Kids Ice Camp Indoor and Outdoor -FREE! from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. including Ice Camp Indoor at Camp Okoboji with ice fishing demonstrations indoors, followed by Kids Ice Camp on the Ice on Little Emerson Bay with ice fishing opportunities for the kids with the NAIFC Pro Staff helping them use the latest and greatest ice fishing equipment. Harmon is hoping for a large crowd of youngsters. “They get to learn inside (where it’s warm) and then go out and experience ice fishing at its best with top notch equipment. Plus, each youngster gets a free rod and reel for attending.”
• Social time at The Hutt Bar & Grill from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Rules meeting for contestants at 7 p.m.

Sunday, January 19

• NAIFC Qualifier Competition on Emerson Bay/Little Emerson Bay from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Indoor weigh-in at 2 p.m. at The Hutt Bar & Grill.

Sponsors for the Okoboji Qualifier include Stan’s Bait & Tackle, The Hutt Bar & Grill, Camp Okoboji, Bridges Bay and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery.