This week residents of Devils Lake and the Lake Region should start seeing an increase in out-of-state license plates and more and more vehicles parked around the Memorial Building, in the heart of the city, as the 40th annual Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department Ice Fishing Tournament comes to town.
Thursday
Events begin Thursday, Jan. 25 with tourney registration from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m., a free Soup/Chili feed from 6 p.m. until gone and DJ Entertainment from 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. in the Memorial Building gymnasium.
Friday
Events continue Friday, Jan. 26 with tourney registration from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. and another Soup/Chili feed from 6 p.m. until gone and A Fisherman’s Dance from 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. in the Memorial Building gym. Both Thursday and Friday evenings door prizes will be given away and you must be present to win.
From Thursday through Saturday adult beverages will be for sale on-site in the Memorial Building courtesy downtown establishments. Courtesy Vans are provided to get you home safe and sound, remember “Don’t Drink & Drive.”
Saturday
Saturday begins early for the many volunteers who have been working nearly year-round to make this tournament successful. At the KC Hall there is a hearty early morning breakfast and briefing (6:30 a.m.) before heading out onto the ice at 7 a.m. to drill the thousands of holes that will be used for the tournament participants. Upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 holes will be drilled for the fishing part of the tournament. Registration Saturday is in the Memorial Building from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and on the ice from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. with fishing beginning at 1 p.m.
Tournament Site
Driving directions from Devils Lake to the tournament site: Turn west on Highway 19 at the junction of US Highway 2 and Highway 19. Drive 6 miles west and follow the signs provided. The tourney has been held in this same location for a number of years, now, and they have it pretty much figured out where the parking will be located, where the weigh-in location will be, and so on.
Some fishing participants bring chairs or buckets to sit on but no shelters are allowed. According to the forecast, temperatures on the ice will make Saturday, Jan. 27 one of the nicest days the Lake Region has seen in a number of weeks with a high expected at 34 degrees, winds West 10 to 15 mph, mostly to partly cloudy, humidity at 88% and only 8% chance of precipitation.
All contestants must have a ticket to compete in the fishing tournament. Kids 14 and under will be given a ticket for a chance to win the fishing package, drawn at 2:30 p.m. on the ice.
Live bait is available on the ice.
Fishing Prizes
There are trophies for First Place winners in each division.
Walleye – First prize is $2,000, Second prize is a 2024 Chevy Colorado, Third prize is $1,000, Fourth prize is $750 and Fifth prize is $500.
Perch – First prize is $2,000, Second prize is $1,500, Third prize is a UTV, Fourth prize is $750 and Fifth prize is $500.
Pike – First prize is $2,000, Second prize is $1,500, Third prize is $1,000, Fourth prize is A Hardshell Fish House, and Fifth prize is $500.
Fishing on the ice concludes at 3:30 p.m. at the sound of the horn.
Dinner & Drawing Party
The catered Fisherman’s Dinner is served for sale starting at 4 p.m. until gone, music provided from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the raffle drawings begin at 7 p.m. where over $325,000 in prizes will be given away. For these prizes you need not be present to win. Grand Prize is a 2024 Ford F-150 and the 165th (and final) prize is a 4-door Chevy Trax.
Following the Drawing Party the Fishermen’s Dance begins at 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Remember to use the Courtesy Vans to get home safely after a night of fun!
Benefits the DLVFD
The proceeds from this event go to the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department to purchase and update needed life-saving and fire fighting equipment for the city. This is the 40th year this tournament has been held and in recognition of that anniversary the 40th prize in the drawing is a very special one, according to Fire Chief Nate Bennett, it’s an additional Ice Castle Fish House with the DLVFD Ice Fishing tournament’s logo on the side.
