Mayor's Ice Fishing Tournament

“We are excited to host this first-ever ice fishing tournament as part of WinterFest and welcome anglers from near and far for a great morning on the ice in downtown Maple Grove!” - Mark Steffenson, Mayor of Maple Grove

Presented by the Maple Grove Lions and Experience Maple Grove

Grab your winter gear and get ready to drop a line! The Maple Grove Lions and Experience Maple Grove are thrilled to present the First Annual Mayor’s Ice Fishing Tournament — a brand-new community event celebrating winter fun, friendly competition, and the great Minnesota outdoors!

Join anglers of all ages and experience levels on North Arbor Lake for a morning filled with excitement, prizes, and community spirit. With over $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, this is your chance to reel in more than just fish!

📅 Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
🕗 Time: Setup begins at 7:00 AM | Tournament runs 8:00–11:00 AM
📍 Location: North Arbor Lake, Maple Grove (across from the Maple Grove Government Center)
💰 Entry Fee: $45 per hole (+ processing fees)
👥 Capacity: Limited to the first 500 participants

All fishing holes will be predrilled and ready for you! Participants may bring a chair, bucket, or portable tent shelter (no skid houses, wheelhouses, or vehicles on the ice).

Registration opens October 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Don’t wait — these holes will go fast!

• Over $5,000 in prizes and raffles
• Awards for the three largest trout
• Raffle drawings throughout the morning — must be present to win
• Family-friendly environment (kids welcome with an adult participant)
• Community camaraderie and plenty of smiles!

To keep things fair, fun, and safe for everyone, please review the key rules below.
(A complete list of rules will also be available on our website.)

Participation & Setup

• Participants must have a valid MN Fishing License (and trout stamp if required).
• Check-in begins at 7:00 AM; no early entry allowed.
• Each angler may fish one hole, one line at a time.
• No augers or spears are allowed; ice chisels are recommended.
• No motorized vehicles or wheelhouses are permitted on the ice.

Safety & Conduct

• No alcohol, tobacco, or pets in the contest area.
• All bags, buckets, and shelters are subject to inspection.
• Heaters, chairs, bait pails, depth finders, and cameras are welcome.
• Skid houses, wheelhouses, or permanent shelters are not allowed.

Catch & Judging

• Only trout count toward official contest prizes (limit: 3 trout per participant).
• All other fish must be immediately released.
• Fish must be measured and recorded by 11:05 AM.
• Judges’ decisions are final.

Prizes & Refunds

• Prizes awarded for the three largest trout; tie-breakers go to the first fish caught at that length.
• Raffle prizes will be announced live after the contest.
• Event staff are not eligible for prizes.
• All ticket sales are final. Proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization and community initiatives. Thank you for your support.

Parking

• Parking is availble at the Maple Grove Library, Maple Grove Government Center and on street as avaialble

If weather or ice conditions require rescheduling, participants will be notified at least 48 hours in advance.

This event is about more than fishing — it’s about bringing our community together, supporting local causes, and celebrating the spirit of Maple Grove. Whether you’re in it for the big catch, the camaraderie, or just some fresh air on a winter morning, we’re glad to have you on the ice with us!

Register early, spread the word, and let’s make the inaugural Mayor’s Ice Fishing Tournament one to remember!

For more information regarding Winterfest: https://experiencemaplegrove.com/winterfest/

#MapleGroveLions #ExperienceMapleGrove #IceFishing #CommunityEvent #FishOn

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Offical Ice Fishing Tournament Rules and Regulations:

1. All participants are required to abide by all MN State Licensing requirements and be in possession of a trout stamp if required. Licenses and trout stamps will NOT be available on-site.
2. By registering for and participating in this event, all participants acknowledge and agree that they have reviewed, understand, and will abide by the rules as posted on our official website.
3. All ticket sales are non-refundable. Proceeds from this event benefit our nonprofit organization and go directly toward supporting local projects and community outreach. We appreciate your kindness and understanding.
4. The contest is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., January 31, 2026, at North Arbor Lake. Should the contest be postponed for any reason the decision whether or not to do a make up date will be communicated 48 hours prior to the originally published event date.
5. Entry fee for the contest is $45 for residents, and $45 for non-residents. Registration will begin on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 am. Registration will be available online at the event website. The maximum number of participants will be 500.
6. All contestants and other spectators hereby consent to the use of any names, photographs or likenesses of themselves to be used in the promotion of our contest, including but not limited to print, radio, television or any other media.
7. No pets allowed in the contest area.
8. The use of alcohol and tobacco is strictly prohibited.
9. Participants are not allowed to enter the fishing contest area prior to official check-in on the day of the contest; check-in will begin at 7:00 a.m. Any item found within the contest before check-in begins will be held by event staff until the conclusion of the tournament.
10. Participants must enter the contest area through the designated area. All bags, buckets, bait, containers, etc. may be subject to inspection prior to entering the contest area. Contest officials and police personnel have the right to inspect all items, including outerwear.
11. Each participant must have a contest ticket, which must remain visible. This will be mailed to you and must be displayed on your outerwear for admittance.
12. Participants may fish only in the contest area during the contest and may use only the holes provided. No spears or ice augers are allowed. Ice chisels are recommended as holes are pre-drilled.
13. There is a one hole and one line maximum per registered participant.
14. Participants can move to, and fish in, other unoccupied holes in the contest area once the contest is underway.
15. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. If both are participants in the contest, they must fish at immediately adjacent holes.
16. Glass containers are not allowed in the contest area and will be confiscated by event staff.
17. Shelters will be permitted. Any person, shelter or item on the ice is subject to search. Contest officials have the right to remove any person, or item from the contest area.
18. Heaters, chairs, bait pails, depth finders and underwater cameras are allowed.
19. Participants may leave the contest area, however, must re-enter through main entrance area.
20. No motorized vehicles are allowed in the contest area other than those of contest officials and police personnel.
21. Contest results remain unofficial until verified by the judging committee.
22. All protests or disputes relating to any matter involving the rules and/or the event must be registered with the judging committee before the completion of the event.
23. Only official drones are allowed in the contest area. All private drones will be removed, and the owners may be disqualified from the contest.
24. No minnows will be allowed for bait.
25. Event staff are ineligible to win prizes in this contest.
26. Participants are permitted to catch, register, and keep up to a maximum of 3 trout.
27. All species of fish, other than trout, must be immediately released.
28. All Participants must have their fish measured and recorded by 11:05 a.m. on the day of the contest.
29. There will be up to 3 official judges within the contest area that will serve as the official judging/ measuring committee. Registered fish must be caught from a hole located in the contest area, during contest hours. Frozen fish are ineligible. Judges shall have the right to verify all fish are legally caught. The decision of the judge is final. Participants are responsible for verification of measurement of the fish at time of recording.
30. Failure to comply with any contest rules will be grounds to disqualify and remove participant from contest area as determined by contest officials. Contest officials reserve the right to refuse sale and/or revoke a contest ticket to anyone.
31. Prizes will be awarded based on the number of registrations. Prizes will be awarded for the three largest trout. If there is a tie at a winning measurement, the top place will be awarded to the first fish caught at that length. Subsequent fish at that length will be given the next place.
32. Raffle prizes will be given out. Please see prize boards during event to see if you have won a prize. The number on your admittance ticket will serve as your raffle number. The 3 largest raffles prizes will be drawn live at the end of the fishing contest. You MUST be present to win.

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Host or Publisher Maple Grove Lions Club