Long Lake Prepares for Ice Fishing Tournament
Saturday morning is the start of the 7th Annual Fish Frenzy Outdoors ice fishing tournament at the Mar-Ral Road DNR boat launch. What once started as an idea seven years ago has turned into an annual event on Long Lake with the help of friends, family, and the love and support of the community, which keeps the ice fishing tournament coming back every year better than the last. Zac Rousseau, Founder of Fish Frenzy Outdoors, said, “We got shanties, augers, fishing poles, and coolers. We got thousands and thousands of dollars donated and prizes, so there’s something here for everybody.”
Pre registration was available for the tournament at Gonzo’s Bait on Long Lake, Bayside Bait in Presque Isle, and Clem’s Bait and Tackle in Alpena. Registration on Saturday will be available until 11am on the ice, with the entry fee at $15. There’s quite a few different divisions, kids are included 12 and Under. Rousseau said, “Depending on how many people are signed up tomorrow morning, but normally we try to do at least seven places in perch, seven places in walleye that we paid out last year.” He said, “I think it was like $2000 for first place, and then we have trophies for the top three in each division, and then we have a pike division, which, as we just give three prizes out to first, second third, and then we have a kids division, it’ll be top three perch and top three walleye for kids 12 and under.”
The tournament itself respects the wildlife they’re fishing for with their Sportsman Award. Any participant can win the award through a drawing at the end of the tournament, if they put their fish(s) back in the water. They also donate money received back from the 50/50 and other fundraisers, and it’s going to be split between the Long Lake Association and a local teen in need of some support. Rousseau said, “This year we’re going to donate part of the proceeds to a little gal that just got diagnosed with leukemia, and she needs a bunch of treatments and stuff like that.” He said, “We’re going to donate part of the proceeds to her this year, and then the other half will go to the Long Lake Association for planting more fish in the lake.”
Fishing starts at 11 am on Saturday, February fourth, and end at 6 pm.
