BY Anna Erickson
aerickson@parkrapidsenterprise.com
Subzero temperatures have ensured plenty of ice for this weekend’s 17th annual Park Rapids American Legion Community Fishing Contest.
The event is this Saturday, Feb. 7 on Fish Hook Lake. More than $110,000 in prizes will be given away.
The derby is a big draw for the area each February and follows on the heels of the USXC snowmobile races on Fish Hook last weekend.
Tickets are still available for the fishing tourney and are $40 each.
Don’t fish? That’s OK. Besides the opportunity to fish is the chance of winning a raffle prize. The grand prize this year is a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 from Thielen Motors. The vehicle is parked at the American Legion.
The 17th largest fish caught in any category will win an Ice Castle fish house, with $2,000 awarded to the seller of the winning fish house ticket. The fish house is also parked in front of the American Legion.
Also, $2,000 is awarded to the seller of the most tickets.
Tickets are available at the American Legion.
More than 60 raffle prizes are available. Additional prizes could be won in four fishing categories: Division I: bluegill and crappie; division II: northern, walleye and largemouth bass; perch division; rock bass division; and white fish division.
Prizes range from cash to an ATV or golf package with many gift certificates.
The fishing derby weekend kicks off Friday, Feb. 6, with a welcome dance from 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. with entertainment by “White Knuckle Willie.”
Sons of the American Legion breakfast will be served from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Legion and a Post 212 fundraiser lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Legion.
The fishing contest is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Fish Hook Lake that afternoon with an awards presentation at 5 p.m. at the American Legion. That evening is the fisherman’s ball from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Legion. The entertainment will be “White Knuckle Willie.”
A Boy Scouts breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 to wrap up the weekend.
For more information, contact the Legion at 732-5238. Information can also be found at
www.parkrapidsamericanlegion.com
.
