Our Mission: The Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association is committed to the education, conservation, and management of our natural resources while building an understanding of our aquatic ecosystems and sciences. Our primary goals are to get students involved in the outdoors and to become future ambassadors of our sport through the foundation of spirited competition.
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2025 ICE FISHING STATE QUALIFIERS & WIFA STATE ICE CHAMPIONSHIP
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ELIGIBILITY
1) Must complete Coaches Handbook - WIFA Team Qualification Form 2) Compete in ONE WIFA State Qualifier Event AND catch and register at least two fish in that event** December 26th - February 2nd (WIFA State Qualifier) WIFA Mixed Bag '300' Challenge Tournament INFO SHEET January 25th - January 26th (WIFA State Qualifier) North-South Tag Team Trifecta Tournament INFO SHEET SIGN UP Saturday, February 1st (WIFA State Qualifier) WIFA LIVE Regional Championships **Schools can chose location but only can fish in ONE Regional Location** Regional 1 - Shawano Lake INFO SHEET SIGN UP Regional 2 - Chetek Chain o Lakes INFO SHEET SIGN UP Regional 3 - Lake Wausau INFO SHEET SIGN UP Regional 4 - Rock Lake (Lake Mills, WI) INFO SHEET SIGN UP Saturday, February 15th (STATE CHAMPIONSHIP) 2025 WIFA ICE FISHING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8, La Crosse, WI Sponsored by HT Enterprises SIGN UP OFFICIAL RULES 2025 WIFA ICE FISHING EVENTS
**Dates subject to change**
Saturday, January 11th Tip up Extravaganza - Kettle Moraine, Long, Mauthe, Other Area Lakes, Dundee, WI Hosted by Kiel High School INFO SHEET Saturday or Sunday, January 11-12th Altoona's 'Catch Em All!' Tournament Any WI Public Ice, Statewide Virtual Event Hosted by Altoona High School INFO SHEET SIGN UP Saturday, January 18th Kurt's Minocqua Madness Tournament Lake Minocqua, Minocqua, WI Hosted by Kurt's Island Sport Shop INFO SHEET SIGN UP Saturday & Sunday, January 18-19th Battle on the Bay 2.0 Chequamegon Bay, Ashland, WI Hosted by Ashland High School INFO SHEET Saturday, January 18th Waupaca Chain O' Lakes Invite - Waupaca, WI Hosted by Waupaca/Kaukauna HS INFO SHEET SIGN UP Saturday, January 18th Lucky on the Leaf! Tournament, Cloverleaf Lakes, WI Hosted by Clintonville High School INFO SHEET Saturday, March 1st K.I.S.S. High School Ice Fishing Tournament Lake Minocqua, Minocqua, WI Hosted by Kurt's Island Sport Shop INFO SHEET SIGN UP 2025 WIFA OPEN WATER EVENTS
Dates & Events Subject to Change Due to Conditions/Etc Date TBD
Early Bird Border Battle Menominee River & Bay of Green Bay, Marinette, WI Hosted by Marinette HS Fishing Team Date TBD Bottom Feeder Bonanza East & West Twin Rivers, Two Rivers, WI Hosted by Two Rivers HS Fishing Team Date TBD WIFA Open Water Championship Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin SIGN UP OFFICIAL RULES Date TBD Big Cedar Bass Battle, Big Cedar Lake, Slinger, WI Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team Date TBD Stars and Stripes Bass Tournament Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team Date TBD Panfish Palooza Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team Date TBD Uncle Sam’s Bass Bonanza Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team |
WIFA Quick Links:
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2025 WIFA Master Angler Leaderboard
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See Master Angler page or click HERE for directions on how to sign up and compete!
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NEENAH CAPTURES 2024 WIFA STATE ICE FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP IN DRAMATIC FASHION
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!
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!
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO HELP FUND NEW TEAMS, TOURNAMENT EVENTS, PROJECTS AND MORE!
Does your team strive to embark on a project to promote fishing in the community, complete a habitat or conservation project, or maybe host a tournament in 2024-2025? If so, you can receive funds from WIFA to help assist your project. Click on the WIFA Grant Application below and fill it out!
WIFA GRANT APPLICATION
Does your team strive to embark on a project to promote fishing in the community, complete a habitat or conservation project, or maybe host a tournament in 2024-2025? If so, you can receive funds from WIFA to help assist your project. Click on the WIFA Grant Application below and fill it out!
- Tournament/Event Grants can be for up to $250
- Start Up/First Year Team Grants can be for up to $500
- Conservation Project Grants can be for up to $1000
WIFA GRANT APPLICATION
2024 WIFA RAFFLE WINNERS LIST
Thanks to all those that bought tickets and supported WIFA and our WI High School Fishing Teams in 2024!
Thanks to all those that bought tickets and supported WIFA and our WI High School Fishing Teams in 2024!
2025 WIFA SCHOLARSHIPS
UP TO $10,000 WILL BE AWARDED
Application available March - April 2025. Awarded to students that live out our WIFA Mission while on their WIFA team.
More information, including application, will be available in March.
UP TO $10,000 WILL BE AWARDED
Application available March - April 2025. Awarded to students that live out our WIFA Mission while on their WIFA team.
More information, including application, will be available in March.
THANKS TO THESE WIFA SPONSORS
WIFA WEBSITE NUMBERS:
over 67,000 visits in last year
over 67,000 visits in last year