Michigan ice open

Michigan Ice Open

on Hamlin Lake Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2014

Inside

• Complete schedule • Tournament rules • Boundary map • Ice fishing tips

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

| MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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Register for our Hamlin Hookers 4th Annual Ice Fishing Tournament February 8, 2014 at 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sponsored by Hamlin Grocery. Register at Hamlin Grocery, $20 to enter. 100% cash pay out for 1st Place.

Super prizes for 2nd, 3rd, 4th placing.

This is an individual, one-day, total points tournament on HAMLIN LAKE. Participants must sign-in at the tournament check-in line no later than 5:00 PM for measuring of fish and calculation of points by a designated committee.

CONTACT: VAUGHN FLEWELLING, 231-843-2058 TO REGISTER AND FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HAMLIN GROCERY 3611 N. Jebavy, Ludington

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Hours: 6 AM-10 PM Daily

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

2014 Michigan Ice Open Hamlin Lake - January 31-February 2, 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014 On-site registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tournament Rules Meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Stearns Motor Inn Ball Room, 212 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington

Saturday, February 1, 2014 Michigan Ice Open Tournament 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Access point to Hamlin Lake at Victory Park Landing (Parking lot at Victory Park Landing will open at 6 a.m. No participants are al-

lowed into the lot prior to 6 a.m. Bucket check and line-up will begin at 6:30 a.m.) Landing will only be accessible to tournament participants.

Spectators are encouraged to use Wilson Hill for parking and access to the ice.

Michigan Ice Open Weigh-In 3:30 p.m. with awards to follow at Baymont Inn & Suites, 4079 West U.S. 10, Ludington. Spectators welcome.

Sunday, February 2, 2014 Youth Fishing School 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., at Hamlin Town Hall, 3775 North Jebavy Drive, Ludington

Pre-registration is required for this FREE event for kids between the ages of 5 and 14. There is a limit of 50 kids per session.

Two sessions will be offered. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. • Registration forms will be accepted at the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants may also download the registration/waiver and release form from www.michiganiceopen.com and fax it to 231-845-6854. For information call 231-8450324

* See map on page 6 for directions to Victory Park.

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

| MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

A guide to all things ice fishing

Free fishing weekend Feb. 15-16

BY BRIAN MULHERIN DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER What’s tight lining?

What’s an ice troller?

What’s a Nuggie?

If you’ve ever wondered about ice fishing and its lingo, this is your guide.

The Michigan Ice Open takes place on Hamlin Lake Feb. 1 and you can bet many of the people on the ice that day will know the answers to the questions above.

The tournament pits two-person teams against each other in a challenge of who can catch the biggest and the most fish. The team limit is eight bluegills and eight crappies.

Catching eight bluegills on Hamlin Lake is generally not difficult, but catching eight of them that approach 9 or 10 inches can be a tough task. Conversely, there are some very large crappies on Hamlin Lake, but finding them can be difficult.

Michigan is home to some outstanding fishing, with more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, more than 11,000 inland lakes, and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division strives to engage as many individuals as possible in the vast recreational opportunities, and provide special times to do so – including the annual Free Fishing Weekends.

One weekend each winter and summer, this opportunity allow anyone to fish for free.

The 2014 Winter Free Fishing Weekend is Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16. As part of the free weekends, fishing license fees are waived for two days, allowing residents and outof-state visitors to enjoy fishing. All regulations will still apply.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION If past tournaments are any guide, fishing will be heavy in at least three locations — near the end of Lincoln Road, on the north shore across from Wilson Hill Park and more than a mile east of Wilson Hill Park in an area called “the hole” by ice anglers. That’s not to say those will be the only areas with fish. The late-summer algae bloom on the upper lake caused weeds to die off in several areas. Fish under ice tend to migrate to areas with healthy weeds.

Anglers can travel by snowmobile, ATV or by walking. Walkers could have a tough road, though, with a 2.5-mile walk from Victory Park to the crappie grounds off the end of Lincoln Road. Crappies can be found in other parts of the upper lake, too.

If anglers don’t like their spot, they can hop to another. They can drill as many holes as they like, but anyone can use them as long as they’re far enough away from another angler.

Indian Pete Bayou and the Lost Lake Bayou are off-limits, as are areas northeast of Victory Park and anything west of the narrows.

lure down to them.

Electronics are a big key to competitive ice fishing because they’re a time saver. Electronic flashers will show different size fish in different colors, for the most part.

The colors vary by brand, but anglers can tell just by looking if they’ve got a hole full of dinky perch or a school of nice bluegills or suspended crappies.

An angler at the 2013 Michigan Ice Open Tournament waits for a bite. straightens out when a fish grabs it and swims up or down. Then they What is tight lining? It’s a type set the hook and reel in their fish. of jigging done with high-visibilIce trolling is drilling a ton of ity line in lieu of a spring bobber. holes and hopping from one to anAnglers generally keep their bait other with an electronic flasher to in constant motion and watch the see if there are fish, particularly big line either in the hole or above the fish, suspended off the bottom. hole to see if it bends differently or If they mark a fish, they lower a

TECHNIQUES

To encourage involvement in Free Fishing Weekends, organized activities are often offered in communities across the state.

The DNR has numerous resources to help people plan and execute an event related to a free fishing weekend. Visit www. michigan.gov/freefishing and look through the Free Fishing Weekend Event Planning e-Toolkit. Once an event is coordinated, register it as an official 2014 Winter Free Fishing Weekend activity online at: https://www.surveymonkey. com/s/2014WinterFFW. Upon registering, you will be contacted about receiving a packet of resources from Fisheries Division.

We welcome you to become a part of the tradition that is the annual Free Fishing Weekends – a time to get together and have some fishing fun!

that are eight feet down or more.

When you’re hitting them one after another, you want to keep after them before the school moves away.

TAKE-OFF AND FINISH

Anglers will be released some time before 8 a.m. from a lineup in front of Victory Park, ice permitting. They can get to their spot and auger their holes, but they must PLASTICS VS. MEAT wait until 8 a.m. before doing any Most tournament anglers carry fishing. some type of a jig with a soft-plasAnglers can fish from 8 a.m. to tic trailer. Most also carry live bait, 2 p.m. At 2 p.m. all buckets will be but when plastic is working, the collected and transported to Bayfishing is fast and furious. mont Inn & Suites for the weigh-in.

A Nuggie is a type of plastic trailThe buckets are sealed as soon as er sold by the Little Atom compa- they leave the ice and transported ny. Other companies also produce together to prevent cheating. Antrailers or ready-to-fish jigs with glers with too many fish face penalplastic trailers. ties and anglers with too few or fish Most anglers also prefer tung- that are too small will be looking up sten jigs because they’re heavier at the winner when the weigh-in is than lead jigs of the same size. The over. idea is that you don’t have to wait around for a teardrop to flutter to bmulherin@ludingtondailynews.com the bottom, particularly on fish 843-1122 x348

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

2014 Michigan Ice Open 1. This is a team event. Each team will consist of 2 anglers.

2. All teams will be given 6 tags with team numbers on them, 2 to be displayed at all times on the anglers, 2 to be displayed on portable fish shelter or shelters used by the anglers and 2 to be displayed on team’s ATVs or snowmobiles.

This rule is to help identify any and all participants on the ice by the officials at any time.

3. Participants may fish with or without a portable shelter. When fishing in a shelter team numbers must be visible at all times. When not fishing in a shelter it must be kept in the open position as not to hole block. No wheeled houses or hard-sided houses allowed. Shelters may be set up prior to the 8 a.m. start but the anglers may not enter shelter until 8 a.m. start.

4. No third-party fishing during the event.

Each team must fish alone. Family members, friends, or others known to Michigan Ice Open Tournament contestants, but not in the competition, MAY NOT fish within established tournament boundaries during the hours of competition, or on the morning of the competition before competition begins. Non anglers, other than officials and press, will be asked to watch from outside of the core fishing groups as not to disturb the anglers.

5. Participants can fish with only one line at a time.

6. All other Michigan angling, snowmobiling, and ATV rules must be obeyed. Citations may result in disqualification. No ALCOHOL WILL BE ALLOWED. 7. Each team will be given a Bucket and Lid. The Bucket and Lid will be marked with the team number on it. This bucket and lid must be kept with one of the 2 anglers at all times while on the ice. The buckets should be kept ½ full of water to keep fish as fresh as possible (No frozen fish). When handing over tournament catch to officials at the finish line be sure to place one of the team numbers inside bucket before it is sealed. All fish brought to the finish line and weigh in must be caught on the day of the tournament, during tournament hours.

8. Teams may not fish closer than 10 feet from another team. But no more than 30 yards away from their teammate from the time of inspection to the time their bucket is sealed.

as long as they maintain the 10 foot rule.

10. Hole Blocking is prohibited. Definition – the use of unattended shelter or other equipment to block the ice from other competitors whether there is a hole near said equipment or not.

11. All equipment brought onto the ice at bucket check must be with the team at all times, you may not leave fishing equipment in one location of the lake and go to another location to fish without said equipment. As this would constitute hole blocking.

12. Participants must fish and travel within the designated tournament area.

13. Pre-fishing or “practice” fishing on the lake the day of the tournament is prohibited.

14. At least one (1) team member must be 18 years of age and must attend the Michigan Ice Open Tournament rules meeting and registration on Friday night- times and location will be posted in the schedule.

15. There will be mandatory fish shelter and equipment inspections before participants are allowed to proceed onto the ice. Inspections be9. Participants may drill as many holes as gin between 6: a.m. and 7 a.m. (have everything they wish. Competitors can fish any open hole open and ready for the inspectors.)

16. This is a one day – total weight tournament – designated species are Crappie and Sunfish/Bluegill. Each team can weigh up to 8 Crappie and 8 Sunfish/Bluegill (no Rock Bass) for a Total of 16 fish. If there are more than 8 of either species in a team’s bucket the team will lose their overall biggest fish. First tie-breaker will be the number of total fish caught. Second tie-breaker will be coin flip.

them during tournament hours. If a team’s equipment breaks down and their team mate cannot pull them tournament officials will help to have equipment taken to shore after the tournament.

You will not be disqualified for leaving broken ATV or snowmobile on ice to fish.

17. Teams must return to the official tournament finish line by 2 p.m. on Saturday, with all fish culled and big fish marked with zip ties given at rules meeting, in order to have Official buckets sealed. All sealed buckets will be left in the hands of the tournament officials to be transported to the weigh-in location. All of the team’s fish must be in your possession at all times during tournament hours. Weigh-in time will be posted in the schedule. If you have not passed the finish line by 2 p.m. your team will be disqualified.

20. Any entrant who has been disqualified in any Ice Fishing Tournament whether it is the Michigan Ice Open or similar event must contact the tournament director prior to entry, to verify if that entrant will be allowed to fish. If you have been disqualified for the intent to defraud the tournament or any of the anglers you will not be allowed to fish the Michigan Ice Open.

18. Cars and Trucks WILL NOT be permitted inside the tournament area during the event. Snowmobiles and ATVs can be used when possible.

Tournament officials will make the final decision if ice conditions are satisfactory for Snowmobile and ATV use during the event. (If you have transportation break down, mark it with a team number so officials know which teams equipment it is.) Team mates can pull each other. A team will be disqualified if anyone other than their team mate tows

19. Unsportsmanlike or unethical behavior is grounds for disqualification.

21. If a team witnesses a violation to any of the above rules, it is the obligation of that team to notify a Michigan Ice Open Tournament official immediately of said violation.

22. The decision of Michigan Ice Open Tournament officials is final. Remember this is about fun, enjoy and be safe.

THESE RULES are subject to change, the Michigan Ice Open Committee reserves the right to amend and introduce rules.

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

MAP TO VICTORY PARK

Michigan Ice Open January 31February 2, 2014 * Parking at Victory Park for tournament participants.

| MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

TOURNAMENT BOUNDARIES MAP

The 2014 Michigan Ice Open will be held in this area of Upper Hamlin Lake, with boundary lines as marked. Boundaries are subject to change due to ice conditions.

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

Michigan Ice Open

| MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

An event brought to the area by:

Hamlin Lake - January 31-February 2, 2014

Drilled Hole Sponsor Frontier Communications www.frontier.com

Thin Ice Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Best Western of Ludington Hungry Howie’s Pizza Little Caesars Pizza of Ludington Nader’s Lakeshore Motor Lodge Oakview Medical Care Facility

Stearns Motor Inn

Mac’s Rod Shop

Stearns Motor Inn www.thetikilounge.com

Ludington Area Charterboat Association www.ludingtoncharterboats.org

Larsen’s Landscaping www.larsenslandscaping.com

Baymont Inn & Suites www.baymontinns.com

Lowe’s www.lowes.com

The Angler Magazine West Michigan http://coastalanglermag.com/westmichigan/

Dreamweaver Lures www.dreamweaverlures.com

Walmart www.walmart.com

Gold Sponsors

Hamlin Grocery www.hamlingrocery.com

Silver Sponsors Old Hamlin Restaurant Country Veterinary Clinic Ludington Beverage Company

Bronze Sponsors Hobby Crest Resort Murphy Well Drilling

Youth Fishing School sponsors Hamlin Fire Department Hamlin Grocery Ludington Paint and Glass Johnson and Johnson Paint

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

A look at 2013 Michigan Ice Open Youth Fishing School

Daily News file photos

Children learn how to fish as part of the weekend tournament.

Winners, scenes from out on the ice

Sean Carlin and Andy Lightfoot show trophies they won for the 2013 Michigan Ice Open Tournament.

Above, a tournament participant catches a fish during the weekend tournament.

At left, participants count their fish.

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

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| MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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LudingtonTournament.com

Your Daily News provides you with a full catch of news, sports, entertainment and much more. And of course Outdoor Writer Brian Mulherin will bring you the latest fishing reports, tips and hot spots each week in Saturday’s Outdoors. And he doesn’t even mind if you use the paper to wrap your fish when you’re done.

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Pick up your copy at area news stands or call 845-5183 for convenient home delivery.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

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| LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

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LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS

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