Alberta Ice Fishing Derbies: Fishing In The Winter?
If you enjoy fishing so much that you can not have enough during the summer, you shouldn't worry because there is a solution for you: you can try an Alberta ice fishing derby. Also known as vertical jigging, ice fishing can be pretty attractive for both novices and experts. The main advantage of this type of fishing is the fact that due to lower natural food production and increased fish interest in bait, ice fishing yields more whitefish and perch than in any other season. Also up for the challenge are pike, walleye, trout and burbot (ling).
In Alberta you can practice ice fishing on most lakes and streams around the province. Depending on the weather, the season generally begins in December and end up in April. In order to begin your ice fishing adventure you can either build temporary sheds or simply drill holes and drop in a line. Ice fishing derbies are pretty common in Albert. The most important ice fishing competitions happen in Slave Lake and Lac La Biche. Fishermen actually build fires on the lakes to keep warm while waiting for the big one. If you're in Calgary, you can fish on stretches of the Bow River that remain open year-round. You will notice that no drilling is necessary: just warm gear. Before thinking about the Alberta fishing derbies you should know that starting with 2006 Alberta introduced mandatory licensing for fishing derbies. The competitive fishing events - also called fishing derbies or tournaments - require a license since the August 1, 2006. The organizers of derbies with 26 or more participants should purchase a license to conduct their event while a fishing derby with 25 or fewer participants does not require a license. All fishing derbies will be classified as small, medium or large, depending on the number of participants and prize values. An interesting aspect is that only Alberta residents are eligible for a license. Moreover, the organizers of medium or large derbies must also prove that they will donate all the profit to a charitable society. One positive thing is that only event organizers must obtain such a license while the participants should only have their regular sportfishing license. The main reason for introducing this compulsory license is to promote maximum catch-and-release survival rates and lower harvest levels. An application for a fishing derby license can be obtain in two ways: - You can buy it ( for about $25) at any Fish and Wildlife office - You can print it from the website of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. You should send the filed out form to a Fish and Wildlife office. Despite the crisp cold air, and the wind which might be present, you should be confident about participating in an Alberta ice fishing derby. You will notice that there are as many types of rods and techniques as there are fishermen in a derby, and not only will you learn a lot of new things but you will also register some impressive catches. You can catch pike as well as pickerel and you will have a great time. |
