OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The frozen waters of the Lake Winnebago System are going to be busy places this weekend.
Thousands are expected to be out and about, for sturgeon spearing, and an annual ice fishing tournament which doubles as a fundraiser.
From a line of SUVs stretching across the ice, to an all-in-one mobile fishing shack known as a Sno Bear, to ta contraption called a SHERP, vehicles of many shapes and sizes are part of the 14th Annual Battle on Bago ice fishing tournament and family event in Oshkosh.
“It’s busy. We have a lot of fishermen out here this weekend. People are itching to get outside, and do something,” said Glenn Curran, Battle on Bago President.
Curran says the fishing tournament area covers the entire Lake Winnebago System. $275,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs. Scott Proebstle says this is his first time on this ice.
“Figured we’d see what we catch. Maybe a couple walleye, have a good time, enjoy it. I’m not working for two day,” said Scott Proebstle, Rio.
Organizers say the Friday and Saturday fundraising event features, live music, food, raffles, and more.
A typical Battle on Bago event can attract about 8-10,000 people. But because of the pandemic, tournament officials are asking those people to be careful, use common sense, and that’s not all.
“We’ve added an additional weigh-in site over at Critters in Winneconne. We have extended weigh-in hours for people to come down and weigh in. And if they don’t want to be at the tent, they can have somebody else weigh their fish in. And then then we’re having the prize presentation, virtually. You can log in on YouTube, or Facebook, and watch to see if you won a prize,” said Curran.
Back on the ice, Curran says at more than 131,000 acres, Lake Winnebago should have enough space for those this weekend.
“Ice fishing is probably the epitome of social distancing. You don’t want to fish close to anybody, so most people spend their time out on the lake here,” he said.
Battle on Bago continues tomorrow.
Over the last 13 years, the event raised more than $1.6 million for local charities, kids and conservation organizations and others including the Boys and Girls Club, Rotary, and The Oshkosh Kids Foundation.
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