Ice Duels was first conceptualized by tournament promoter and Montana outfitter Mike Howe in early 2012. Having just completed the seventh year of the highly successful Perch Assault ice fishing series in Montana, Mike was contemplating the future of the series when the idea of an ice fishing tournament based on a double elimination sports tournament crossed his mind.
Most ice fishing tournaments fall into two categories or platforms. The "Derby", which is usually a wide open, high attendance event that counts on a single big fish to be caught by a single contestant. They are usually a one event per year contest and luck plays a larger factor than skill. The largest events often have very large prizes, trucks, ATV’s, snowmobiles, etc. but many of those prizes are paid to random positions, not necessarily rewarding skill…
The "Tournament" platform is predominantly a two person team event that allows for a more competitive environment that rewards a set amount of fish and or weights. Some are single day events and some involve a series concept. Skill is more important here and locals tend to dominate these events as they get to choose their best spots based on that knowledge.
The most popular open water fishing tournaments establish a single champion at each event. Personalities are established, crowd favorites are selected and the individual angler has to prove themselves as the best on any given day. While spectating is possible during the events, these events are TV friendly and help establish them as major sporting events.
Mike wondered why an ice fishing tournament couldn’t be conducted on a platform that would allow for a fast paced, spectator and television friendly controlled environment. The course or courts could be designated by organizers to maximize fish catching opportunity; the anglers could be contained in an area that affords visibility to spectators as well as TV viewers and the matches could be timed and rotated to work towards an ultimate showdown challenge…Thus the Ice Duels idea was born.
The Ice Duels concept will present an entirely new tournament dynamic. It won’t be for everybody, but it will appeal to the most competitive ice anglers. It will be a catch and release contest, anglers earning a point for every fish brought out of the hole. The tournament format only allows for a limited amount of anglers per event. Potential contestants will have to sign up early or risk not gaining entry. And it is not about who can catch the largest fish, but who can overcome several elements to catch fish under regularly changing circumstances.
Most ice fishing tournaments fall into two categories or platforms. The "Derby", which is usually a wide open, high attendance event that counts on a single big fish to be caught by a single contestant. They are usually a one event per year contest and luck plays a larger factor than skill. The largest events often have very large prizes, trucks, ATV’s, snowmobiles, etc. but many of those prizes are paid to random positions, not necessarily rewarding skill…
The "Tournament" platform is predominantly a two person team event that allows for a more competitive environment that rewards a set amount of fish and or weights. Some are single day events and some involve a series concept. Skill is more important here and locals tend to dominate these events as they get to choose their best spots based on that knowledge.
The most popular open water fishing tournaments establish a single champion at each event. Personalities are established, crowd favorites are selected and the individual angler has to prove themselves as the best on any given day. While spectating is possible during the events, these events are TV friendly and help establish them as major sporting events.
Mike wondered why an ice fishing tournament couldn’t be conducted on a platform that would allow for a fast paced, spectator and television friendly controlled environment. The course or courts could be designated by organizers to maximize fish catching opportunity; the anglers could be contained in an area that affords visibility to spectators as well as TV viewers and the matches could be timed and rotated to work towards an ultimate showdown challenge…Thus the Ice Duels idea was born.
The Ice Duels concept will present an entirely new tournament dynamic. It won’t be for everybody, but it will appeal to the most competitive ice anglers. It will be a catch and release contest, anglers earning a point for every fish brought out of the hole. The tournament format only allows for a limited amount of anglers per event. Potential contestants will have to sign up early or risk not gaining entry. And it is not about who can catch the largest fish, but who can overcome several elements to catch fish under regularly changing circumstances.