Mobridge, SD
Organizers of a major ice fishing tournament in South Dakota are trying to make the event accessible to more people.
Starting this week, you can enter a lottery to win a spot in the Mobridge Ice Fishing Tournament. Organizers had to make some quick changes so people have more than a sliver of a chance to win.
"It's an awesome tournament, something to see and to be part of," Randy Carlson said.
Carlson has participated in the tournament in the past so he's already signed up for the coming January event. To thank people for their loyalty, the organizing committee let previous participants sign up for the tournament's 500 spots first. Others could win one of the remaining spots through the lottery.
"This year we actually had, when everything was said and done, only five spots left for our lottery," said Haden Merkel, director of Mobridge Chamber of Commerce.
With hundreds expected to enter, chances to get in would be slim so organizers decided to increase the total prize amount to $185,000 and expand the tournament by 25 teams.
The tournament committee doesn’t expect to increase the number of teams allowed in future years, but those entering the tournament through the lottery won’t be guaranteed a future spot. So as any anglers with secured spots decide not to come back, the number of lottery positions will grow.
"We're going to hopefully get to the point where we have 450 spots that are always filled and are secured and 75 spots for the lottery so it's a little bit more fun for people to be able to get in and hope to come fish with us," Merkel said.
As a Mobridge resident, Carlson likes the expansion and is excited to see more people participate.
"It's nice to see all the people come to Mobridge and we're able to accommodate them. It's just a good all-around, fun tournament," Carlson said.
This will be the tournament’s fourteenth year. It’s grown from 50 total participants its first year. It passed the 200 mark in 2008 and has filled every year since 2010.
2002 | 50 one-person teams |
2003 | 50 two-person teams |
2004 | 51 two-person teams |
2005 | 86 two-person teams |
2006 | 127 two-person teams |
2007 | 148 two-person teams |
2008 | 222 two-person teams |
2009 | 395 two-person teams |
2010 | 400 two-person teams |
2011 | 450 two-person teams |
2012 | 450 two-person teams |
2013 | 500 two-person teams |
2014 | 500 two-person teams |
News
General
Courts
Web Only
Crime
Outdoors
Events Center
Non-Homepage
Boredom Busters
Pipeline
Positively KELOLAND
Technology
Hunger
Affordable Care Act
Shops
Flooding
Remembering 9/11
Drought
JazzFest
Spring Storm
Honor Flight
Spencer Anniversary
Copper Lounge Collapse
Hidden History
Founder's Day
Eclipse
Holiday
Custer Fire
Pheasant Fest
DoApp
Health News
Business News
Sports
Agriculture
Markets
Livestock
Crops
Politics
HealthBeat
Cancer
Children's Health
Heart Health
Wellness & Nutrition
General
Health Beat
Women's Health
RX Resources
What's Going Around
OTC
Diabetes
Recalls
Dental Health
Men's Health
Politics
South Dakota
Legislature
Budget
Congress
Taxes
General
Local
Campaign
President
US Senate
New Laws
US House
Iowa
Ballot Issues
Local Races
Minnesota
Gubernatorial
Education
Funding
College
Elementary
High School
Pre K
School Supplies
Middle School
Sports
Professional
College
High School
Sports Zone
Headlines
Summit League Tournament
Olympics
Super Bowl
Racing
All Star
Golf
NCAA
Business
Industry
Your Money Matters
Development
Gas & Energy
Legislation
Economy/Stocks
Employment
General
Health Care
Technology
Education Funding
Tourism
Banking/Finance
Housing
Transportation
Insurance
Meetings & Events
Retail & Restaurants
All Industries
On The Move
Shops
Agriculture
Holiday Shopping
Trendigital
Featured Stories
Eye on KELOLAND
Inside KELOLAND
Weather
Snow
Forecast
Records
Rain
Flooding
Drought
WX Corner
General
World News
Investigates
Sponsored
KELOLAND Living
Done
Opening existing...