Saturday, February 15th saw 87 Wisconsin High Schools take to the Mississippi River in beautiful La Crosse, WI, competing for the 2025 WIFA State Ice Fishing Championship! Over 1000 student-anglers flooded the lakes and backwaters, drilling hole and jigging for panfish or setting tip ups in hopes of enticing a big bass or toothy northern pike! After a snowy 7.5 hours of fishing concluded, it was the Chieftans of Osceola HS hoisting the 2025 WIFA Championship trophy, as they had a fantastic day on the ice, winning the title with an impressive 527.25" of fish.
In the State Championship, teams of 12 anglers enter their longest 40 fish (10 crappie, 10 perch, 10 bluegill, 5 bass, and 5 pike). Osceola was one of only a four schools to catch all 40 fish. It was a complete team effort and the team worked together very well to win the title. Natalie Priebe caught the biggest bass for the team and the 2nd biggest bass in the tournament with a 20" giant. Tim Nissen caught a 32.25" pike for the biggest pike for Osceola. Brieley Wassman caught the biggest crappie at 12.25" with Dylan Hornung and Natalie Priebe catching 12" crappie as well. Matthew Hansen caught a monster 13" perch to lead the team's perch stringer. Brieley Wassman also caught the biggest bluegill for the team with an 8.5" bluegill. The team's 10 registered bluegills contained every fish at or above 8". The best 10 crappies were all at or above 11". The 5 bass ranged from 16" - 20". The 5 pike ranged from 28.5" - 32.25". The best 10 perch ranged from 7.75" - 13". Osceola did not win the longest stringer in any of the categories, but their consistency of being in the top 7 for each of the species helped them capture their 3rd WIFA State Ice Fishing Championship. The team consisted of Seniors Tim Nissen, Gavin Priebe, Landon Campeau, Tred Hiljus, Dylan Hornung, Matthew Hansen, and Aaron Solland, Junior: Asher Havranek, and Sophomores Levi Reed, Natalie Priebe, Brieley Wassman, and Cole Lund. Coming in 2nd place were the Slinger Owls with 516.25"! Slinger had a monster stringer of 5 northern pike for 163.5", including a 38.5" giant that was the biggest of the entire tournament. Their stringer of 10 perch at just under a 100" also landed third overall, while all of the other stringers of fish finished in the top 17! This was the second consecutive state tournamnent that Slinger finished inside the top 3, taking 3rd in the 2024! Fishing in just their second ever State Championship, the Winneconne Wolves came in 3rd place with a total of 506.75". The Wolves dominated in the bass category, putting together a stringer of 5 bass that totaled 95.75", including three fish over 19" and Preston Marvin's 20.25" toad was the biggest bass of the entire tournament. The Wolves were one of only 4 teams to fill the full tournament card of 40 fish. Rounding out the top five were the two other teams that went 40/40 in the Mixed Bag total! Fourth place went to the Kaukauna Ghosts with 505.25" and fifth place were the Kiel Raiders with 501.25"! This marked the best state tournament finish ever for both teams! Congratulations! Here is the rest of the State Championship Top 10: Appleton North 6th, North Fondy 7th, Neenah 8th, Amery 9th, Milton 10th! The city of La Crosse and surrounding communities were amazing hosts and the Friday Night Mixer at the La Crosse Center featured over 1200 student-angler, coaches and volunteer attendees. There was great food, camaraderie, tournament chatter, and awards were given out for Master Angler, Master Angler Team of the Year and WIFA Team of the Year! Congratulations to all of the WIFA High School Teams and anglers. The fish caught and memories made will last a lifetime! We can't wait for the 2026 State Championship! |
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Osceola HS - State Champions
Slinger HS - 2nd Place
Winneconne HS - 3rd Place
Kaukauna HS - 4th Place
Kiel HS - 5th Place |
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NEENAH CAPTURES 2024 STATEWIDE ICE FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP!!
Congratulations to the Neenah High School Fishing Team for pulling off a huge total of 554.75" of fish on the last day of the 4-day option 2024 WIFA State Ice Fishing Championship! Marginal ice conditions forced the WIFA into an early cancellation of the originally scheduled Championship Derby set for the Mississippi River in La Crosse --- switching the State Championship to a Statewide Open competition in which teams could choose between one of four days (February 17, 18, 24 or 25th) and fish between the hours of 7am and 7pm! The week prior to the original state event, the Neenah team met to establish an inches goal for the event. A three tiered approach established an inches goal for an average day, a good day and a potential championship day, with the team settling in on a range of 560-570 with a target of 570 as the top end goal. From that point all planning and rigging focused on "Chasing 570" in hopes of 'maxing out' in each category. Unknowingly, with the Rockets choosing February 25th as their fishing day, they would need to nearly meet their lofty goal of 570 in order to win. At that point, Appleton North (550.5") and Slinger (544") both had fished and already put up huge totals topping 540" each to sit atop the 'blacked-out' leaderboard. Choosing the 25th as their day of choice, largely in part to putting faith in solar lunar tables triggering big fish bite windows, the Rockets took to the ice on the Lake Winnebago System and lakes in Vilas County. Keying their victory were several huge stringers, but maybe the most impressive was a 5-bass stringer averaging over 19"! "I was blown away when the results were posted, " said Neenah Coach Chris Jones. "Tallying in the 550's and admittedly falling a little short of our team target of 570, we felt we may have left some inches out there in a couple of categories. Against these top teams you can't do that. Appleton North, Slinger, Osceola, North Fondy are all incredible teams, multiple state champs, well coached and they are always crushing big fish. To compete with them, you have to bring it every time, every event. Our kids know that, respect that and it motivates them to be better. But not knowing their totals was pretty stressful." The Rockets held a celebration at Neenah High School to present their State Championship team and its two alternate members (pictured) the trophy and well-deserved recognition! This was the 2nd State Championship for Neenah, who also won the 2018 WIFA Championship in Minocqua. Congratulations again to the Neenah Fishing Team! |
2024 WIFA ICE FISHING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
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APPLETON NORTH WINS 2022 WIFA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Teams fished for a combined total length of the following species:
5 Walleye 5 Whitebass 3 Catfish 15 Panfish |
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OSCEOLA WINS 2021 WIFA STATE ICE CHAMPIONSHIP TO GO BACK TO BACK
FINAL TOP 20 STANDINGS
1. Osceola 612.5
2. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 597
3. Ledger Fishing Team (SMS) 552.25
4. Pulaski 550
5. Neenah 505.25
6. Drummond 482.5
7. New Richmond 472.5
8. Appleton North 446
9. Ashland 444.75
10. North Fondy 444.25
11. Somerset 439.75
12. Kaukauna 425.55
13. Kiel 419.5
14. Augusta 405.75
15. Prescott 403.25
16. Appleton East 384.75
17. Unity 380.75
18. Bruce 371.25
19. Slinger 368.5
20. Waukesha North 365.75
1. Osceola 612.5
2. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 597
3. Ledger Fishing Team (SMS) 552.25
4. Pulaski 550
5. Neenah 505.25
6. Drummond 482.5
7. New Richmond 472.5
8. Appleton North 446
9. Ashland 444.75
10. North Fondy 444.25
11. Somerset 439.75
12. Kaukauna 425.55
13. Kiel 419.5
14. Augusta 405.75
15. Prescott 403.25
16. Appleton East 384.75
17. Unity 380.75
18. Bruce 371.25
19. Slinger 368.5
20. Waukesha North 365.75
OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL WINS 2020 WIFA STATE ICE FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP WITH INCREDIBLE 578" OF FISH
WIFA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 15
1 Osceola HS 578.5" 2 DC Everest HS 523.75" 3 Drummond HS 493.75" 4 Appleton East HS 485" 5 Prairie Farm HS 433.5" 6 West De Pere HS 425.5" 7 Waupun HS 424.25" 8 New Richmond HS 422.5" 9 New Auburn HS 415" 10 North Fond du Lac HS 406.5" 11 Neenah HS 391.5" 12 Kaukauna HS 375.5" 13 Wisconsin Rapid HS 357.25" 14 Appleton North HS 347.5" 15 Menasha HS 342.5" You can find the FULL RESULTS HERE. |
The 2020 WIFA State Championship found teams scattered across the state of Wisconsin, fishing local or well-known bodies of water, hoping to catch as many big fish in six different species categories! The originally scheduled State Championship site in Eagle River was canceled two weeks prior to the event due to heavy snow and slush, as well as variable ice conditions. A decision was made by the WIFA Board to hold a state-wide event for the Championship, utilizing the FishDonkey App to take photos of fish and calculate scores! Teams were allowed to fish any public Wisconsin waters. Osceola High School Fishing Team had a truly impressive day, totaling 578.50 total inches to claim the 2020 WIFA State Championship! Osceola put up top 12 'stringers' of fish in each species category, including the top Walleye Stringer of 92.5"! DC Everest also had a tremendous day on the ice, being the only other team in the state to top 500 total inches of fish caught! A huge total of 115.75" of crappies and 87.5" for walleyes anchored their final tally! The Top 15 teams in the tournament had every one of their fish verified by the WIFA Board before the official results were released. 
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PULASKI HIGH SCHOOL FISHING TEAM WINS 2019 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER
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Congratulations to Pulaski High School Fishing Team on capturing the 2019 WIFA State Championship on the Mississippi River Pools 7 and 8 out of La Crosse, WI! Pulaski split their team and fished a secluded backwater channel as well as Lake Onalaska and put an impressive total of 402.5" of fish on the scorecard to hoist the championship trophy! After a slow day of pre-fishing on Friday, this skilled group of anglers put together an awfully impressive tournament day on Saturday!!
Coming in second place was North Fond du Lac with a total of 392” of fish, with 38 out of 40 fish on the scorecard. North Fondy loaded the card with five impressive bass, including a 20.25” Master Angler qualifier while the other half of the team filled the card with perch, bluegill and crappie. Pike proved to be the nemesis though, as only 3 found the card and two broke tip-up lines during the day, including what proved to be a heart-breaker with 20 minutes remaining. Rounding out the top five was Appleton North in 3rd with 383.75”, Wisconsin Rapids 1 in 4th with 375.5” and Neenah 1 in 5th with 343.75”! Special thanks to Explore La Crosse and the La Crosse Center for hosting a fantastic 2019 WIFA State Championship! STATE STANDINGS - SHEET 3 Click sheet 3 button at lower left once you open registration page 
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2018 WIFA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Minocqua Provides Perfect Backdrop for 2017-2018 WIFA State Championship
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Over the past four years high school ice fishing has exploded onto the landscape and culture of Wisconsin. More than 90 teams have formed, and schools are contributing to local environmental projects, children’s fishing outings and having a lot of fun ice fishing as well. This year, the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce graciously hosted the WIFA state tournament with more than 700 anglers from 80 schools competing for the title. The weather was fantastic, and the Minocqua Chain provided the perfect weekend for high school fishing.
Earning the title of “State Champs” is a difficult task, as the recipe for success in most tournaments involves a consistent limit-and-last mantra; where catching a limit of each species is a necessity. Teams earn positions in the final standings based upon combined length in total inches of gamefish plus panfish. (5 Northern Pike, 5 bass and 1 Walleye plus the combined average of 5 Bluegill, 5 Crappie and 5 Perch). The teams that limit out or come close, are usually found at the top of the leaderboard on tournament day. 2018 was no different. In the last three years Wisconsin Rapids CO-OP has created a dynasty on the ice, capturing state titles on the Chetek Chain, Shawano Lake and the Red Cedar Chain. With consistent effort and execution on tournament day, they have become a dominant program. State championships however, are not won just by showing up on tournament day and finding a lucky spot or simply by chance. Practice and pre-fishing all season long leads up to a successful tournament. Wisconsin Rapids’ resume of success was evident even before this year’s state tournament began, with Austin Stankowski taking home WIFA Angler of the Year honors by catching 18 fish in the master angler category. Congratulations Austin! The collection of state championship trophies resting on their table at the Friday night pre tournament meeting reminded everyone that overthrowing the champ isn’t an easy task. Tournament day at 5:00 AM was chilly, and anglers lined up at the many access points on the Minocqua Chain and Lake Tomahawk for the official take off. Teams were allowed to drill holes in advance and identify the areas they planned to fish during the tournament. With more than 700 anglers on the ice, some locations would see heavy traffic by vehicle, UTV, sled and foot. One of those locations was Stacks Bay on the East end on Minocqua, where ultimately many of the teams from the top ten ending up fishing. With tip ups scattered and students hole hopping in search of active fish, Stacks Bay was busy with people fishing but also just as busy with people catching. By mid morning it was evident Stacks Bay was the place to be with most of the teams fishing there limiting out on panfish, Northern Pike and even Walleye. The wildcard in this tournament would turn out to be bass, and teams catching them would separate themselves from the rest of the field. On the north side of Minocqua several teams were also catching fish. One of those was Neenah, targeting bass in shallow weeds, catching four Largemouth jigging. West DePere was also in the area targeting panfish, eventually bringing in 101.76 converted inches of gills, crappie and perch, the highest panfish total of any team in the tournament! Back in Stacks Bay the fish catching continued with Rapids, Kettle Moraine, Neenah and several other teams all consistently catching fish and unknowingly starting to pull away from the rest of the field. As the tournament competition hours began to wain and teams were due back at Torpy Park in downtown Minocqua, several teams like Burlington were able to get that last minute flurry of flags to help move them up the leaderboard. When teams arrived at Torpy, the WIFA crew had assembled an impressive tournament headquarters with a stage and tents allowing anglers and coaches to ease through the weigh in lines, weighing their panfish and confirming their gamefish totals. Teams headed to the stage and were interviewed by WIFA president and tournament MC Wendy Dallmann, providing kids the opportunity to share about their day on the ice. Always sporting a great stage presence, Dallmann brings an exciting dynamic to the weigh in where teams with high totals were held back until the end, adding to the drama of the weigh in and the eventual crowning of the next state champion. The top ten was loaded with teams that have consistently fished well in events all over the state this year, including Barron (10th), DC Everest (9th), Fondy Ledgers (8th), Kettle Moraine Gold (7th) and Burlington (6th). Kettle Moraine Blue added a second team into the top ten with a 5th place finish, and local favorite Lakeland Union 1 landed near the top in 4th. Union’s combined total inches of 223.135 marked a distinct break in the standings, with the top four all accumulating over 200 total inches. Three Lakes/Phelps had a great day on the ice earning them 3rd place with a total of 234.62 inches, and for the second straight year Wisconsin Rapids and Neenah would be at the top of the leaderboard. Rapids finished in 2nd with 242.07 and with MC Dallmann’s announcement “And new State Champion…” it was official, Neenah had earned the title with 269.75 inches. Teams were gracious on stage, regardless of their final place, recognizing the efforts of coaches, parents and teammates, including the impact they have had in their schools and in their communities. Although competition is a part of the tournament weekend, the vast majority of high school fishing teams across the Badger state make an even bigger impact off the ice. Teams host kids’ fishing clinics, coordinate with local agencies to conduct environmental projects and volunteer at various fishing events, truly embodying the spirit and pulse of WIFA. Congratulations to Neenah High School and to all of the teams competing in the 2018 WIFA state tournament! Thank you WIFA for once again providing students from Wisconsin a chance to enjoy the sport they love and share that love of fishing with others. See you in 2019! FULL 2018 WIFA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
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PAST STATE CHAMPIOINS
2024 - State Wide Public Waters Neenah High School 2023 - Cancelled - Bad Ice Conditions 2022 - Lake Petenwell/Castle Rock Appleton North High School 2021 - State Wide Public Waters Osceola High School 2020 - State Wide Public Waters Osceola High School 2019 - Mississippi River Pools 7&8 Pulaski High School 2018 - Minocqua Chain Neenah High School 2017 - Red Cedar Chain Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School 2016 - Shawano Lake Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Full Results 2015 - Chetek Chain O' Lakes Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Full Results 2014 - Lake Winnebago System Fond du Lac High School 2013 - Lake Winnebago System New Holstein High School |
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