Ice fishing tournament in Alexandria: 2,200 anglers and 0 fish caught

Good times.

February 15, 2011 at 8:40PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Star Tribune file photo -- not from Alexandria event.
Star Tribune file photo -- not from Alexandria event. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

What if they had an ice fishing tournament, but no fish showed up? Colleague Bill W. passes along this report from KSAX.com on a tournament in Alexandria:

About 2,200 anglers came to Lake Agnes in Alexandria Saturday for what was being called "Minnesota's second largest ice fishing tournament." But no one caught a fish.

"The first ten minutes, when there was no fish caught, and then to go and hour, and then two hours into it, and at that point, I'm going, 'I hope there's no fish caught,'" fisherman Bill Franzen said.

At the end of the three-hour contest, no fish were caught. No trophy bass, no walleye, no crappie.

"We have a very unique thing and I think we should go down in the record books," Franzen said.

"It's all part of the contest. It's win or lose. Some people win, some people lose; well, everybody's a loser," fisherman Ron Fischer said.

We've participated in ice fishing exactly once. It was about a month ago. No fish were caught. So the story holds up.

about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

See Moreicon

More from Sports

See More
card image
Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune

The Twins traded for two-time World Series champion Anthony Banda as they begin preparations for the 2026 season.

card image
card image