Watch: Nearly 10,000 People Ice Fish for Charity | National Geographic

This is the world's largest party on ice. We are the largest charitable fishing contest in the entire world. We have upwards of 10,000 people out here, and we're all supporting local charities. The entire thing is volunteer-run. We have approximately 80 volunteers come out; they take 40 augers out, go two guys, two people by two people, and they punch holes for, this year, was 2 and 1/2 hours for 19,000 holes in the ice.

We do give away 150 prizes for the top 150 fish, but number one is our the truck of your choice. We do interpers big prizes all through there, so even if you catch a smaller fish, you might be looking to get bumped down on the board because you're waiting all day for the 3 hours to get pushed to that big expensive fish house or maybe a four-wheeler.

We have caught about 1,000 fish each year, but we are a live release tournament. We do release every fish that we catch, and 85% of the fish do survive. I meet plenty of people who can't believe, let alone that we go out on ice alone, but then when you punch 20,000 holes and get 10,000 extra people out there, they don't believe you.

It is quite the experience. You forget you're on the ice once you get this many people out here because it becomes a small city. Other people think that, oh, it's freezing out here, and they think motans are crazy out here and all that, but it's a lot of fun for other people. Younger generations are getting into it, and they're having a fun time out here. [Music]