Anglers Are Ready for Jamboree
Pickford

The annual Walleye Jamboree on Munuscong Bay will award $600 to the angler who catches the largest walleye in the four-day fishing tournament. The event will start at midnight Thursday, January 24, and continue through noon Sunday, January 27. The weigh-in tent and Sunday awards ceremony will be at Dan's Cabins and Resort on Munuscong Bay.

The second-place prize is a storage shed, and third place in the contest will be awarded $300. The fourth place prize is $200 and the fifth place prize is $100. The sixth through 10th largest fish will receive cash prizes of varying amounts, depending on sponsor donations and the number of entries.

Additional prizes will be awarded for the largest fish caught each day of the event and to the angler who catches the most walleyes. The Bounty on the Bay contest will award another $100 if the biggest walleye caught is larger than last year's 9.8-pound fish caught by Jim Skinner.

Anyone who is not on the leader board for catching the first through 10th largest fish will be entered in the entry drawing for dozens more prizes. Names will be drawn at the awards ceremony Sunday.

The biggest walleye caught in a separate youth contest will win $50 for the lucky angler. The youth angler who catches the largest pike or perch will get $35. Cash prizes will also be awarded to youth anglers who catch the second through fifth largest fish in the walleye, pike, and perch contests.

As of Monday, January 21, there was sufficient ice formation for the contest on Munuscong Bay, but anglers should still avoid ice near land, especially around islands and points, said organizer Carley Ball. Mild weather, thawing, and rain over the past month has caused unstable ice conditions, and people should avoid driving on the ice with automobiles. Mrs. Ball recommended people avoid the east side of the bay closest to the St. Marys River, and people should not attempt fishing near the St. Marys shipping channel. People should use caution and common sense when traveling the ice, and should not use automobiles, snowmobiles, or four-wheelers where ice conditions are unstable. The safest areas are inside the bay, Mrs. Ball said.

"If there are not people where you want to go fishing, get off your sled and walk to where you want to fish," Mrs. Ball said.

More information can be obtained by calling Carley or Tom Ball at (906) 647-4002, or by calling (906) 635-9703. The Soo Area Sportsmen's Club will sponsor the event, with the help of nearly 20 Pickford, Cedarville, and Sault Ste. Marie area businesses that donate prizes and cash.

The weigh-in station on the shores of the Munuscong will be available Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thursday hours are 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday hours are 10:30 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday hours are 10:30 a.m. to noon, and no fish will be weighed after noon. The awards ceremony will start between noon and 12:30 p.m.

Register for the contest at Wilderness Treasures and Dan's Cabins in Pickford, MMC Store in Barbeau, Petersen's Country Store in Raber, and Hank's Sport Shop in Sault Ste. Marie. The entry fee is $10 per adult and $5 per child.

The club is also planning the Second Chance walleye fishing contest, which is scheduled for Friday, February 22, through Sunday, February 24.

Additional information is on pages 6 and 7of this issue.