An Outdoorsman’s Journal WIFA State High School Ice Fishing Championship FLATER’S RESORT - couriersentinel_20260312_ccs-2026-03-12-a-010_art_2.xml
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An Outdoorsman’s Journal By Mark Walters WIFA State High School Ice Fishing Championship Hello friends, If ever there was a week in my career, that I had more to write, than space to write it, it is this week. I have to be extremely vague, to tell this story, so, please, bear with me. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association (WIFA), is about 100 of Wisconsin’s high schools, that make up teams of 12 students, with each angler allowed to use three lines, per state law. Throughout the winter, tournaments are held, where inches, per team, at an event, determines the winner. Here are some examples, at least for the State championship I was part of, with the Mayville ice fishing team, in its first season, coached by tech ed teacher Jesse Wasmund. Five northern pike may be entered and the inches of this group is added. Five walleye, smallmouth or largemouth bass, 10 crappie, 10 bluegill and 10 perch. All fish must be at least six inches. Coaches are not allowed to touch a line or help bring in a fish. Fish must be photographed on a bump board, with the kid who catches the fish. The photos are sent to WIFA personnel and that is how scores are kept. Waters/ice for fishing this year’s tournament were the Wisconsin River and adjoining flowages, from Wausau to Stevens Point. There was a huge and mandatory get-together, held at DC Everest High School, in Schofield, Friday night, where the rules were explained, an excellent meal was served and it was amazing to watch the pride in each individual team. Other rules included that no team could hit the ice before 6:30 a.m., Saturday morning; no fishing before 7 a.m., with fishing ending at 2:30 p.m.; and awards given at Mosinee, starting at about 4. Also, the only water where any type of UTV, ATV or snowmobile was allowed, was the Eau Pleine Flowage. The Winneconne High School ice fishing team won this year’s WIFA State ice fishing championship, which was held on the Wisconsin River and adjoining flowages, between Wausau and Stevens Point. Saturday, Feb. 21 • High 29, Low 15 catch, but for a rookie team, that was three kids short, they were having a lot of fun and trying very hard, to add to the inches stock pile. Owen Steger is a senior at Mayville, and his good buddy, Kevin Keller, is a junior. Both of these guys played basketball last night, for the Mayville Cardinals, and left Mayville, at 3 a.m., to join the ice fishing team. I might add, that Owen has had one heck of a senior year, as he was a big part of the Cardinals football team, that went 14-0 and won the State championship, and Owen was All-State, on offensive and defensive line. Another cool part about these guys, is that they’re hardcore waterfowlers. At about 1 this afternoon, Owen had a flag/tip-up, meaning potential fish. This team’s world went from doing pretty good, for rookies, that were nine lines short, to holy moly, we rock, when Owen iced a 39.5-inch northern pike, that would win him the 2026 WIFA State championship. It’s an honor that only one kid out of 920 would enjoy. Mayville ended up with 232 inches. A very proud and skilled team from Winneconne, won the day, with 454 inches and I left the awards ceremony, with a feeling that WIFA and its founders, have created one of the coolest organizations on earth. Check out WIFA! Sunset I am blessed to be with the Mayville team, and staying with this group of very fun kids and adults. Yesterday, every team pre-fished and drove up, in a major snow/wind event. Today, we would have nine kids, which would hurt us vs. having 12, as that would be nine less lines in the water. Parents/mentors were Tyler Thiede, whose daughter, Carsyn, I have helped mentor many times, for deer and turkey; Jesse, the coach and a fun guy; Brian Loos, our cook; and Jeff Lindgren and Travis Puls, two very intense fishermen, who know exactly what they are doing. Small walleye, and an occasional crappie or perch, with a couple small northern, were the order of the day for us, no big FLATER’S RESORT Where the Chippewa & Flambeau Rivers Meet Advertise Here! Call 715-861-4414 581 Advertise Here! Call 715-861-4414 Joe Flater, owner Cadott • Cornell • Lake Holcombe Your Hometown Newspaper www.flatersresort.com 270 N. Cty. E, Holcombe, Wis. 715-861-4414 715-595-4771 www.centralwinews.com Open Year-around | Bar w/food | Gas | Cabins An Outdoorsman’s Journal By Mark Walters WIFA State High School Ice Fishing Championship Hello friends, If ever there was a week in my career, that I had more to write, than space to write it, it is this week. I have to be extremely vague, to tell this story, so, please, bear with me. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association (WIFA), is about 100 of Wisconsin’s high schools, that make up teams of 12 students, with each angler allowed to use three lines, per state law. Throughout the winter, tournaments are held, where inches, per team, at an event, determines the winner. Here are some examples, at least for the State championship I was part of, with the Mayville ice fishing team, in its first season, coached by tech ed teacher Jesse Wasmund. Five northern pike may be entered and the inches of this group is added. Five walleye, smallmouth or largemouth bass, 10 crappie, 10 bluegill and 10 perch. All fish must be at least six inches. Coaches are not allowed to touch a line or help bring in a fish. Fish must be photographed on a bump board, with the kid who catches the fish. The photos are sent to WIFA personnel and that is how scores are kept. Waters/ice for fishing this year’s tournament were the Wisconsin River and adjoining flowages, from Wausau to Stevens Point. There was a huge and mandatory get-together, held at DC Everest High School, in Schofield, Friday night, where the rules were explained, an excellent meal was served and it was amazing to watch the pride in each individual team. Other rules included that no team could hit the ice before 6:30 a.m., Saturday morning; no fishing before 7 a.m., with fishing ending at 2:30 p.m.; and awards given at Mosinee, starting at about 4. Also, the only water where any type of UTV, ATV or snowmobile was allowed, was the Eau Pleine Flowage. The Winneconne High School ice fishing team won this year’s WIFA State ice fishing championship, which was held on the Wisconsin River and adjoining flowages, between Wausau and Stevens Point. Saturday, Feb. 21 • High 29, Low 15 catch, but for a rookie team, that was three kids short, they were having a lot of fun and trying very hard, to add to the inches stock pile. Owen Steger is a senior at Mayville, and his good buddy, Kevin Keller, is a junior. Both of these guys played basketball last night, for the Mayville Cardinals, and left Mayville, at 3 a.m., to join the ice fishing team. I might add, that Owen has had one heck of a senior year, as he was a big part of the Cardinals football team, that went 14-0 and won the State championship, and Owen was All-State, on offensive and defensive line. Another cool part about these guys, is that they’re hardcore waterfowlers. At about 1 this afternoon, Owen had a flag/tip-up, meaning potential fish. This team’s world went from doing pretty good, for rookies, that were nine lines short, to holy moly, we rock, when Owen iced a 39.5-inch northern pike, that would win him the 2026 WIFA State championship. It’s an honor that only one kid out of 920 would enjoy. Mayville ended up with 232 inches. A very proud and skilled team from Winneconne, won the day, with 454 inches and I left the awards ceremony, with a feeling that WIFA and its founders, have created one of the coolest organizations on earth. Check out WIFA! Sunset I am blessed to be with the Mayville team, and staying with this group of very fun kids and adults. Yesterday, every team pre-fished and drove up, in a major snow/wind event. Today, we would have nine kids, which would hurt us vs. having 12, as that would be nine less lines in the water. Parents/mentors were Tyler Thiede, whose daughter, Carsyn, I have helped mentor many times, for deer and turkey; Jesse, the coach and a fun guy; Brian Loos, our cook; and Jeff Lindgren and Travis Puls, two very intense fishermen, who know exactly what they are doing. Small walleye, and an occasional crappie or perch, with a couple small northern, were the order of the day for us, no big FLATER’S RESORT Where the Chippewa & Flambeau Rivers Meet Advertise Here! Call 715-861-4414 581 Advertise Here! Call 715-861-4414 Joe Flater, owner Cadott • Cornell • Lake Holcombe Your Hometown Newspaper www.flatersresort.com 270 N. Cty. E, Holcombe, Wis. 715-861-4414 715-595-4771 www.centralwinews.com Open Year-around | Bar w/food | Gas | Cabins
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