The 13th annual Jig’s Up Blugold Ice Fishing Contest returned to Lake Wissota on Saturday, February 14, 2026, offering local anglers a chance to compete for over $80,000 in cash and prizes.

Organized by UW-Eau Claire Recreation, Blugold Athletics, and the Lake Wissota Lions Club, the event runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with prize distribution starting at 3 p.m. at The View on Lake Wissota.

Participants can register one fish per $25 ticket, with no limit on the number of tickets purchased. Prizes are awarded by weight to the top 20 fish, and every 10th place thereafter up to 480th place, then 481st through 500th place. The grand prize includes a two-year lease on a Ford F-150 truck, drawn from all registered fish tickets.

For younger anglers, the Scheels Kids Klub fishing event begins at 11 a.m., providing a family-friendly atmosphere on the ice.

All state fishing regulations and bag limits apply, including specific size and catch limits for northern pike, walleye, and panfish. Anglers must be in line at a weigh-in station by 2 p.m. sharp to register their fish.

Tickets are available online and at various local retailers, including Scheels, Eau Claire Ford, Jacobson’s Hardware, UWEC Recreation, Wissota Lodge, 1917 Lake Wissota, The View, and The SandBar.

For more information, visit the official event website or contact UW-Eau Claire Recreation at 715-836-3377.