There’s a ton of comments online from folks that don’t know what actually happened…so here’s some insight from someone who did:
> Mark Pietig: “The fish house was being moved. Before the house was put back down, the smoke detectors started going off. Upon going inside the house, there were flames coming from under the couch that housed the batteries and hydraulic pump.
> “Being an electrical fire, water didn’t suppress it and quickly got out of control.
> “The fire blazed very hot and the south wind pushed the fire to the next house. There was nothing the owner could have done to prevent this situation. It was a mechanical malfunction that could have happened to anyone.
> “The owners of the houses and others fishing in the area did a great job cleaning up the site.”
Little more info from this Tim Speier write-up in the Brainerd Dispatch:
> “…crews brought the rescue buggy, a tracked all-terrain vehicle, to reach the fish houses. Responders drilled a hole and sucked water out of the lake with the buggy to extinguish the fires. A bucket line was also created to control the blaze. Bystanders helped pull two other fish houses away before the fire was able to spread further….”
> “The fire is believed to have started inside the battery box of one of the fish houses.”
Big props to the Nisswa Fire Department, and to those that helped clean up the aftermath.
2. US/CAN: Virtual “Clam Trap Attack” tourney THIS WEEKEND.
Multispecies derby (northern pike, walleye, sunfish, yellow perch, crappie and lake trout) that costs just $10 to enter and can be fished by any ice angler thru the FishDonkey app. Thousands of $$$ in Clam goodies up for grabs and a pile of different ways to win. Full scoop here.
3. MI: Lower Saginaw River now open to walleye fishing all year.
4. IN/IL: Local nonprofit stocked Wolf Lake with walleye fingerlings.
This is the 24th year Perch America has stocked Wolf Lake with “advanced growth walleye fingerlings” which are more expensive, but the 5-7″ fish have a much better survival rate. They’ve now added an estimated 124K advanced growth walleye to the lake.
5. Virtual “America’s Ice Fishing Tournament” happening Feb 4.
Presented by the Brainerd Jaycees – who also host the world’s largest in-person ice fishing derby. This 3rd-annual virtual event will be open to anyone in the U.S. who has fishable ice and will be hosted thru the FishDonkey app from 8am to 3pm on Sat, Feb 4.
> “Eligible species for the tournament are walleye, northern pike, crappie, perch and sunfish. Participants will still need to use a commercially available bump board or measuring board to submit official fish measurements.
> “With a total prize list over $20,000, contestants are eligible to win one of 50 prizes scattered throughout the top 350 places, including $2,500 cash, based on point-awarded fish values.”
Bunch more info here.
6. Big rise in female angler participation. 🙌
> Women now account for 37% of anglers in the US, the highest level on record according to the Special Report on Fishing announced at ICAST 2022 by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in collaboration with the Outdoor Foundation.
> 19.4 mil women went fishing in 2021, an 8% increase in fishing outings since 2019. 1.6 mil female participants were first timers. The total number of fishing outings for females in 2021 was 288 mil.
Tons of interesting info in the full report here (58-page PDF).
7. Study finds extremely high levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Great Lakes fish.
> “Research shows eating 1 freshwater fish a year is similar to drinking PFOS-contaminated water for a month.” 👀
8. FishUSA has up to 50% off Striker gear.
Lots of great deals to snoop thru whether you’re wanting to snag some new gloves, hats, socks, boots, bibs, jackets, rod cases, etc.
I’ve been testing the new Striker Ice Apex Bibs and Jacket for the last couple weeks and have been seriously impressed. It’s got to be the first “float suit” I have ever worn – in any brand – that didn’t feel restricting and bulky. It’s crazy comfortable and light weight…which is just not normal with “float suits.” Not sure how they did it, but I’m glad they did!
