An estimated 10,000 anglers trod onto frozen Gull Lake on Saturday, betting — hoping — they would catch a fish large enough to win a new pickup truck.
The event was the 27th Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza, the largest such competition in the world, organizers say, and the most charitable. Since its founding in 1991, the contest has raised about $3 million for charities in the Brainerd area, notably Confidence Learning Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities.
Saturday's truck winner was Les Laidlaw of Mankato, who caught a 5.54-pound northern pike early in the three-hour contest, which began at noon.
In second place was Brian Dubois of Afton, Mich., with a 5.44-pound northern pike. Third was Florence Anderson of Owatonna, Minn., with a 4.63-pound walleye, and Scott Imgrund of Baxter, Minn., was fourth with a 3.96-pound walleye.
The first fish brought to officials for weighing was registered only minutes after the opening bell.
Because the fish-registration tent is located in the middle of the large cordoned-off portion of Hole-in-the-Day Bay where the contest is held, anglers catching fish on the area's edges must run to the tent as fast as they can to ensure their catches are delivered alive.
Such fish-delivery scenes can be comical, with anglers of all ages sprinting atop the ice while laden in snowmobile suits and heavy boots.
Fish must be alive to be counted. All fish are released.
