The Women Ice Angler Project media event will soon unroll the sleeping bags and set up the heaters on Minneapolis’ suburban Lake Minnetonka. Led by Barb Carey, the event slated for Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2020, will focus attention on women who ice fish. Sponsors benefit from professionally curated media components depicting women using their products on the ice. These resources help forward-thinking companies show their solidarity with strong outdoor women by having photos and video for their marketing and social media efforts.
“In past years we’ve stayed at very nice resorts, but this year with one of our team members living on Minnetonka, it gives us some go-to resources,” Barb Carey said. “We’re going to camp overnight in the Clam shacks with floors built in just for this purpose.”
Carey is a member of Ice Team and a pro-staff for several fishing companies. The “tents” will be the new Clam X-600 hub shacks with an impressive 90 grams of insulation per square meter, enough to keep the anglers warm no matter what Mother Nature throws their way. With 94 square feet of fishable space, there’s room for several anglers to fish and set up cots. The zip-in optional floor adds warmth and protection from melting snow.
Lake Minnetonka is a 14,000-acre suburban body of water 15 miles west of Minneapolis. As Minnesota’s ninth largest lake, Minnetonka is known as a productive fishery for panfish such as crappie, bluegill and sunfish as well as game fish such as walleye, northern pike and bass.
Media coverage has been expansive for Women Ice Angler Project in previous years and 2020 will be no exception. Outdoors First will again follow the gals and upload tips and video coverage to their followers on IceFishingFirst.com. The award-winning podcast Woman Angler & Adventurer co-hosted by Barb Carey and Angie Scott will produce shows on site. Media Lodge, focusing primarily to the millions of campers and adventurers with 50Campfires and Outdoors.com, will collect and disseminate sponsor-focused tips and techniques in a field trip for their sponsors.
Tickets will soon open for a limited number of hard-sided shack seats for women who want to join in the adventure on Saturday, Feb. 1. Working with Lake Minnetonka local Todd Stauffer of Set the Hook Guide Service, everything (including rods and baits) will be ready to go in pre-heated houses. In addition, a limited number of spots are also available for gals with their own portable shelters and all the gear who want to join in for the day. Skill-building stations will augment learning for those who want to expand their skills. For those who are already skilled (and equipped) ice anglers, there will be new faces to encourage along the way. “Our team will each share tips at various stations so this will be a great way for gals from the Twin Cities or wherever they come from to meet the team and hang out with us for the day,” Carey added.
The WIAP team will host a meet-and-greet for ticket holders on Friday night at Jimmy’s Lounge, a private event bar in the lower level of The Lake Room next to The Narrows in Navarre. After a full day of fishing on Saturday, the gals plan to relax to live music at The Narrows with a popular two-gal cover band called “Starlette’s Web.”
Media sources (outdoor writers, columnists, news anchors) are invited to join WIAP to gather story content from the pros on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday the on-ice village of Women Ice anglers will showcase skills for new ice anglers to seasoned pros and everything in between. Media members interested in joining the event are encouraged to contact Barb Carey to make arrangements.
The 2020 WIAP team includes: Barb Carey, Shelly Holland, Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, Rikki Pardun, Bonnie Timm, Shantel Wittstruck, and Kristine (K.J.) Houtman. New to the team are Dena Vick and Brittany Hoffman. Media Lodge’s 50Campfires’ Kayak Jana will trade her paddle in for an ice auger to join the adventure. Additional team bio details at www.womenonice.com.
Project sponsors include: Clam Outdoors, Jiffy, Vexilar, OutdoorsFirst Media/IceFishingFIRST.com, Media Lodge, St. Croix Rods, Fish On Kids Books, Stonehouse Photography, WI Women Fish, Women Anglers of Minnesota (WAM), The Woman Angler and Adventurer podcast, and local businesses: The Narrows and Jimmy’s Lounge at the Lake Room.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
