MASON CITY – Anglers took to the ice for a family ice fishing day at Big Blue in Mason City.
Brian Pauly, Interim Recreation Department Manager, told NorthIowaToday.com on Monday that “We gave way $100 worth of Wal-Mart gift cards and a number Gatorade 6 packs. In addition, we gave out 12 mini kids pizza and 10 large pizza from Godfathers for the first to 5 trout contest. We ran out of food (about 100 people served). The DNR and I estimated about 200 that come through our time. We had over 150 people on the ice at stocking time at 11:30.”
The event, set up by the Mason City Recreation Department and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, was for anyone with valid fishing license. There was a five trout limit for fishers. The event was set up to encourage family participation in the sport of ice fishing. Big Blue was stocked with 1,400 rainbow trout Saturday morning by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
NorthIowaToday.com visited the ice fishers to see how their day was going, which began around 11 AM. “It’s cold and snowy but we’re having a little success. We caught a few already,” one man said.
Snow was falling and the wind was blowing, but that didn’t stop the event from drawing around 20-25 anglers.
Prizes were to be awarded but no information was available on who won or what the prizes were.
