Wawa Annual Ice Fishing Derby

We are heading out, bright and early on Saturday morning, March 6, 2008. We have been delayed by bad weather/winter storm warning on Friday, and our trip so far, has proved our decision to delay our departure a wise one. On the trip up to Wawa, Ontario, the site of the Annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby, we have counted no less than six vehicles off the road, waiting for assistance. Today, I am accompanied by my Web Coordinator, Mitch Larouche. The trip, 240 km. along the north-eastern shore of Lake Superior, is breathtaking at any time of the year, but it can be treacherous.

We arrived at the Derby headquarters around 10 am and sought our co-hosts, members of the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby organizing committee, in particular, Fred and Jonathan Gatz. Our other host, the Lakeview Hotel was downtown and we had to see the setup at the arena before checking in. We found Jonathan Gatz hard at work, already weighing in fish and the derby had just started at 8 am!

The Wawa Ice Fishing Derby is one of the premier events in Wawa, Ontario, featuring over $100,000.00 in prizes. With that value of prizes, the Wawa derby is one of the biggest ice fishing derbies in all of North America. It attracts entrants from all over Canada and the United States. Northern Ontario, in particular Sault Ste. Marie, and the neighbouring communities within a 100 mile radius comprise a vast number of the 1300 participants. And that is the maximum because the derby is limited to that number of participants every year and it is a usual sell-out.

The derby offers categories for Lake trout and Whitefish and the fish must be caught out of one of three lakes, Wawa, Hawk, and Manitowic. There are weigh in stations on each lake and the final weights are taken at the derby headquarters located in the Wawa Community Center. This is the main site for all derby activities, including Saturday dinner/dance, and Sunday’s final weigh-ins and award presentations. The arena also provides booths for commercial vendors, open bar, and viewing of the entire $100,000.00+ prize inventory.

Check out our link to this page, for the rundown of all the winners, winning weights, and the corresponding prize won. Also, check out the main derby page,  outlining everything you need to know about getting in next year’s derby, but remember it is a usual sell-out so sign up early, and if you do, you also get a chance to win the Early Bird Prize, this year it was a brand new 12 ft. aluminum boat with 9.9 hp. motor and trailer!

Our thanks goes out to our hosts, Fred and Jonathan Gatz and the entire Wawa Ice Fishing Derby committee, the owners and staff of the Lakeview Hotel as well as the fine citizens of Wawa, Northern Ontario and all derby participants might even compete, and see if we can’t get in on the fantastic list of prizes valued at over $100,000.00 up for grabs.

Remember to practice Safe and Friendly Fishing,

Kraig Edwards
President
FishingNorthernOntario.com

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