Anglers at the Walleye Jamboree ice fishing contest, hosted by the Soo Area Sportsmen’s Club, will have an entire weekend to become familiar with the handwriting of organizers Tom and Carley Ball. As the contest progresses from its start at 1 a.m. Thursday, January 26, to its noon finish Sunday, January 29, it is the numbers they record that will disclose each contestant’s fate.

Those who have huddled into the heated tent from their shanties on Munuscong Bay can watch as the names of their friends, family members, or neighbors rise to the top of the leaderboard, or as other familiar names sink slowly to the bottom.

While prize money and bragging rights are always on the line, good sportsmanship is a regular feature, too, as people monitor the up-to-theminute developments of the contest. Adult participants tend to root for the younger entrants, delighted that the sport will persist into the next generation.

Mr. Ball credits family-friendly events like these with instilling that perspective in older anglers and that desire into young anglers. There will be plenty of awards for anglers of all ages, he said. It is guaranteed that every child who participates will receive a prize.

Cash awards are given to those who catch one of the 15 largest walleye in the adult category. The firstplace winner receives $600, while second place receives $400. The prize for third-place is a Jiffy Auger. The fourth place fish nets $300, the fifth $200, sixth $100, and seventh through 15th places snag $50 each.

There will also be cash prizes of $25 for the largest fish caught each day. The master angler award, good for $50, is bestowed upon the person who has caught the most walleyes by contest’s end. Contestants may catch a maximum of five fish per day.

The largest walleye caught by a woman will earn $100. This prize will be awarded for the first time, in memory of long-time participant Jan Keiper.

“Ever since her kids were old enough, Jan and her entire family have been out there on the ice,” Mr. Ball said.

In the children’s category, prizes are awarded for the five largest walleye. The largest nabs $50, while the second largest is good for $35. The third- through fifth-place catches net $15 each.

Young anglers have two additional categories available to them. The five largest perch and pike earn awards of $35 for first, $25 for second, and $10 for third through fifth. Youngsters will also be pitted against business owner Ron Gordon. The first boy or girl to catch a fish larger than he does, in all three of the children’s categories, wins $100. If Mr. Gordon doesn’t bring in a fish, than merely catching a fish beats him.

Both adults and children can win a prize for being the first to land a fish that meets the target weight of 1.8 lb. That prize is $50.

Registration is $15 per adult and $5 per youth, ages 15 years old or younger. Participants may register at Wilderness Treasures or Dan’s Cabins in Pickford, MMC Store in Barbeau, or Petersen’s Country Store in Raber.

The weigh-in tent will be at Dan’s Cabins and Resort on Munuscong Bay.