Wisconsin team wins NAIFC ice fishing tournament

[mudbrook]

ISLE — The Wisconsin team of Nick Kemos and Ben Warner won the 2015 North American Ice Fishing Circuit tournament on Mille Lacs Lake and Knife Lake on Feb. 6 and 7. Their two-day total of 16.96 pounds earned the team a $6,500 prize plus championship rings valued at about $3,500 apiece.

The Nebraska team of Jim Hesse and Zach Nadolski placed second with 16.46 pounds; Wisconsin's Brandon Newby and Ryan Wilson placed third with 15.78 pounds.

NAIFC President Jack Baker said changing weather patterns changed anglers’ fortunes, turning so-so fishing spots into winning positions. Insufficient ice rescheduled the 2015 tournament from December to February.

Cathedral High School grads Grant Hopke and Keenan Hemming came in 46th out of 47 teams. They came away from Mille Lacs with 2.37 pounds of fish and from Knife Lake with 1.20 pounds.

http://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/02/08/wisconsin-team-wins-naifc-ice-fishing-tournament/80004724/