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 WIFA OPEN WATER EVENTS
Dates & Events Subject to Change Due to Conditions/Etc Saturday, April 5th
Eyes' on the Fox Walleye Tournament Fox River, De Pere, WI Hosted by Freedom HS Fishing Team SIGN UP INFO SHEET Saturday, April 12 thru Monday, June 30th WIFA Team Master Angler Tournament Hosted by Hartford Union HS Fishing Team SIGN UP INFO SHEET RULES Saturday, April 26th Early Bird Border Battle Menominee River & Bay of Green Bay, Marinette, WI Hosted by Marinette HS Fishing Team INFO SHEET, SIGN UP & ROSTER FORMS May 3rd, 4th, or 10th (Your team chooses one day) WIFA Open Water Championship Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin SIGN UP OFFICIAL RULES Saturday, May 17th Bottom Feeder Bonanza East & West Twin Rivers, Two Rivers, WI Hosted by Two Rivers HS Fishing Team INFO SHEET Sunday, May 25th Stars and Stripes Bass Tournament Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team INFO SHEET Saturday, May 31st Big Cedar Bass Battle, Big Cedar Lake, Slinger, WI Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team INFO SHEET Saturday, June 14th Panfish Palooza Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team INFO SHEET Date TBD Uncle Sam’s Bass Bonanza Statewide - Any Public Water in Wisconsin Hosted by Slinger HS Fishing Team 2025 ICE FISHING STATE QUALIFIERS & WIFA STATE ICE CHAMPIONSHIP
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 Friday-Saturday, February 14-15 (STATE CHAMPIONSHIP) 2025 WIFA ICE FISHING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8, La Crosse, WI Sponsored by HT Enterprises Friday Night Mixer @La Crosse Center Food, Sponsor Tables, Camaraderie 430-600pm Rules Meeting, Master Angler Awards 600-730pm SIGN UP OFFICIAL RULES BOUNDARY MAPS 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, February 22nd Spirit Lake Tournament, Frederic, WI Hosted by Frederic 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 Saturday, March 8th Iola's March Panfish Madness Any WI Public Ice, Statewide Virtual Event Hosted by Iola-Scandinavia High School INFO SHEET SIGN UP |
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!
OH OSCEOLA! CHIEFTANS WIN THIRD WIFA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN LA CROSSE
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 teams and anglers. The fish caught and memories made will last a lifetime! We can't wait for the 2026 State Championship!
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 teams and anglers. The fish caught and memories made will last a lifetime! We can't wait for the 2026 State Championship!
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 2025-2026? 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 2025-2026? 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
THANKS TO THESE WIFA SPONSORS
WIFA WEBSITE NUMBERS:
over 67,000 visits in last year
over 67,000 visits in last year