Brainerd ice fishing contest postponed until Feb. 6

Organizers of the annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza are postponing the contest for two weeks because of inconsistent ice conditions.

Contest officials and the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office said Friday the charitable ice-fishing contest on Gull Lake is being delayed until Feb. 6 for safety reasons. The event had been scheduled for Jan. 23.

Sheriff's Lt. Scott Goddard says warm weather has resulted in inconsistent ice thickness throughout Brainerd area lakes.

The contest was first held in 1991 and has been postponed only two times before, in 2002 and 2012. Over the years the contest has generated more than $3 million in donations to Brainerd area charities.

Contestants will vie for more than $200,000 in prizes this year.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.