Wisconsinites know how to take advantage of each and every season. In the spring they garden and start outdoor projects which have waited all year for their attention. Summer is the time for lawn chair activities like softball games and barbecues. In the fall they chase the elusive whitetail deer and soak up the last bit of sunshine before the snow flies. And what do they do in the winter?

They ice fish, obviously. Throw on your pac boots and grab your jig, it’s time for the 24th Annual Ice Fishing Contest & Jamboree at Miller Dam in Gilman. Hosted by the Miller Dam Lake Association (MDLA), the bash takes place on Saturday, January 31. The contest itself begins at 9 a.m., but MDLA president George Kalmon says that competitors will start showing up the day prior.
“There’s probably 20 that’ll stay overnight on the ice depending on conditions,” Kalmon said. “It looks like a small city out there the night before.” He states that it’s the biggest ice fishing contest in Taylor County, and he believes the family atmosphere is part of what keeps people coming back year after year. The fact that the fishing is good probably doesn’t hurt either.
Miller Dam is known for its exceptional ice fishing thanks to its abundant and diverse fish populations. The flowage’s wood cover and channels provide these species with plenty of nooks and crannies to hide from predators, as well as making excellent nurseries for growing fry. The MDLA has worked hard to provide the public with safe access points, and the surface area of the open water makes it possible for fishermen and women to spread out as much, or as little, as they choose.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires that the MDLA sell tickets to the event to ensure that the lake isn’t overfished and those tickets go for just $1 a piece beginning at 6 a.m. Weigh-in closes at 2:45 p.m. The adults winning each of the six categories will go into a drawing to win $250. In addition, children competing will have an opportunity to win $250 in their own categories. Last year, those categories included perch, bluegill, crappie, bass, and northern.
And while the contest itself is sure to be exciting, the accompanying raffle is not to be missed. First place will take home $2,500 in cash while second place is good for $1,500 and third $1,000. Fourth and fifth place will each pocket $500. The sixth place drawer will sling a Stevens 334 6.5 Creedmoor Bolt Rifle, seventh place earns a G Force 12 Ga. Shotgun, and eighth is good for a Ruger 10-22. Tickets for the raffle sell for $10 a piece or three for $20, and new this year, participants do not need to be present to win.
The chalet off CTH G is heated and the MDLA will have a heated tent on the ice as well, providing reel enthusiasts with a toasty oasis. Inside the chalet you’ll find refreshments and delicious food so you can fuel up before the fish know what hit them. There will be walk-around raffles and door prizes, and because it’s all about the kids, the first 100 children will receive free ice fishing rods and reels starting at 9 a.m.
The event is a labor of love for the MDLA’s members who spend all year planning the contest. From setup to cleanup, it takes each of them to make it a success, and you’ll see over 30 of them on the ice come competition day. The funds raised go right back into the lake; not literally, but by way of equipment like the handicap-accessible dock that was recently purchased, costing nearly $20,000 once it was all said and done. It also goes towards education and community opportunities such as the MDLA’s free youth ice fishing event which was just held on January 3.
Kalmon is looking forward to visiting with some of the people who never miss the jamboree, but what he’s really hoping for? “A kid that catches a real big fish first thing,” Kalmon said.
Visit www.millerdamlakeassoc.com or call 715-965-1984 for more information.