Crooked Oar ready to host 69th Ice Fisheree
Crooked Oar Bar and Marina owner Paul DeVoss stands in front of the stone fireplace.
Numerous children enjoy the family-friendly Ice Fisheree each February. (Courier Press file photo)
By Ted Pennekamp
The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome area ice fishing enthusiasts to Prairie du Chien for the 69th Annual Ice Fisheree weekend to be held Feb. 1, 2 and 3 with headquarters at The Crooked Oar Bar and Marina just north of Prairie du Chien on County K.
Everyone is invited to The Crooked Oar Friday evening, Feb. 1, for the Annual Ice Fisheree Dart and Euchre Tournaments. Registration for both events begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be an entry fee with the steel tip dart tourney beginning at 7 p.m. If anyone want to take their chances with cards instead of darts, cards will be shuffled at 7 p.m. The 52-card gun raffle will also be held on Friday evening and will continue throughout the weekend.
Saturday’s events will begin with The Crooked Oar serving up a delicious hot breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. for those hungry ice fisheree enthusiasts waiting to hit the ice. The Fisheree officially begins at 7 a.m. and will close at 6 p.m. The band “Challenger” performs at 7 p.m. and will keep everyone entertained for the rest of the evening.
Back by popular demand is the tagged fishing contest. Several different types of species of fish will be tagged and released around the Gremore Lake area allowing participants the opportunity to win $15,000 at this year’s event.
A kids’ expo for youth 12 and under and will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb 2. The first 20 kids who register for the kids’ fishing expo will receive a free Schooley’s spring bobber pole, compliments of Stark’s Sport Shop. The kids’ fishing expo is presented by Dave Koonce.
Everyone can start their Sunday off right with breakfast at The Crooked Oar at 7 a.m. Second-day festivities at the Fisheree begin at 8 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m. when the fisheree and door prizes winners will be announced.
The Grand Raffle prize is $5,000 cash. Other great raffle prizes include a Cabela’s Frabill Aegis Ice Shelter, a portable propane heater, fishing fire ring, fishing merchandise and weekend getaways.
Everyone who registers to fish at this year’s fisheree will automatically be eligible to win up to a $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards, plus many more great door prizes.
First, second, and third place prizes, compliments of Frenchtown Sand and Gravel, will be awarded in five fishing categories.
Registration tags for the fisheree are available at the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, The Crooked Oar and Stark’s Sport Shop.
Raffle tickets are just $10 each and can be purchased at participating Crawford County Tavern League establishments, Stark’s Sport Shop, The Crooked Oar Bar and Marina, Zinkle’s Piggly Wiggly, or from representatives of the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce. The raffle drawing will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3.
Everyone is encouraged to bring the family and plan to attend the 69th Annual Prairie du Chien Area Ice Fisheree.
“There should be plenty of good ice this year,” said area fisherman Paul DeVoss, the owner of The Crooked Oar. “Lately, anglers have been catching largemouth bass and northern pike using tip-ups and shiners, some just out from our dock.”
Paul also noted that fishermen and women have been getting good numbers of bluegills, perch and crappies up at Spring Lake this season.
“We had a good crowd last year, and we’re expecting the same this year,” said Paul. “We’re ready and we will have extra help, including several family members.”
The event will be hosted for the second time as The Crooked Oar Bar, and Paul said the building looks a bit different inside and out because of remodeling work, including a stone fireplace inside.
Along with the inviting warmth inside, fisheree attendees will also get to enjoy the fun atmosphere of the new tiki bar built this past spring on the deck of The Crooked Oar. “The tiki bar will be open for the fisheree for the first time. Everyone is bundled up anyway, so they can enjoy a ‘tropical’ atmosphere with Alaska temperatures.” Paul said with a smile. He noted there will be two large heaters outside at the tiki bar.
“I’m excited for people to come, have a great experience and catch a lot of fish,” said Paul who enjoys seeing lots of youth participating with their parents in the family friendly fisheree. “It’s more about the kids for me,” he said.
Kids and adults of all ages are sure to enjoy the 69th Annual Prairie du Chien Area Ice Fisheree headquartered at The Crooked Oar.
