'Get Hooked'

Luverne’s sixth annual Get Hooked Ice Fishing Derby is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at The Lake in Luverne with over $6,000 worth of prizes on deck for winners.
According to Luverne Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere, the 2020 tournament drew 161 adults and 129 youth who caught over 185 pounds of fish.
Registrations last year represented 36 zip codes from the tri-state area.
With so many local celebrations altered or canceled over the past year, Lanphere said she’s looking forward to the fishing derby carrying on in a mostly normal fashion.
"The Get Hooked Team is excited to host the tournament, one of the only ones scheduled in the area,” Lanphere said. "The Committee has put in a lot of work making sure that safety and social distancing protocols are in place to keep people safe."
To keep participants socially distanced, all contestants must pre-register. Adults cost $25 and youth are $15. Registrations on the day of the event cost $5 more.
The winner of the Ice Castle raffle will be drawn at noon on tournament day, and random prize drawings and announcements will occur throughout the tournament via Facebook and on FM 89.9.
People can follow online or listen from their vehicles or ice houses. When names are called, they can come to the tournament building to collect prizes.
Also for safety, registration and badge pickup are drive-through only, and concessions are takeout.
Free rods and reels are offered to youth (until they’re gone), and cash prizes are awarded in youth and adult categories, including $500 for largest fish caught by an adult and $500 for largest fish caught by a kid.
Each carp turned in is worth $2.
New this year, the city of Luverne and Get Hooked Derby have added a ramp at The Lake to help get ice houses safely on the ice.
To register and for more information, visit www.luvernechamber.com or call 507-283-4061.