Winter at its best

(Pictured Above) Twenty-four classes of Lemans style races were held on Clear Lake Saturday.

Thousands turn out for snowmobiling and ice fishing fun

[caption id="attachment_15649" align="alignleft" width="270"] Two hundred fifty-five teams weighed in more than 3,700 pounds of yellow bass Sunday.[/caption]

Last weekend thousands of people found some great ways to forget about blizzards, shoveling, closed roads and more.  “The Jack,” an annual snowmobile event held in memory of Jack Helgren, and the Yellow Bass Bonanza provided ways to celebrate winter.

The Jack Helgren Memorial Race, in its seventh year, was based at Clear Lake State Park.  The event was delayed from its original Jan. 15-16 dates due to poor ice conditions.  Ice conditions were good over the weekend, but cold temperatures and winds gusting to 30 mph on Friday challenged riders, as well as organizers.  Officials weren’t able to test timing equipment because of conditions Friday and problems arose Saturday.  Radar runs were postponed until early Saturday afternoon.  Still, 197 rigs with competitors from Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota were entered in Lemans races.

[caption id="attachment_15636" align="alignleft" width="270"] Remember when snowmobiles looked like this? A vintage snowmobile show was part of “The Jack” Helgren Memorial. - Reporter photos by Chris Barragy.[/caption]

In addition to races, a vintage snowmobile show entertained those who stayed on shore.  The event was sponsored by the North Iowa Snow Seekers.

Sunday, ice fishing dominated lake activities.

Two-hundred fifty-five teams competed in the fourth annual Yellow Bass Bonanza, sponsored by Mason City Power Sports.  Organizer Kevan Paul said participants from as many as 10 states headed out on the ice Sunday afternoon to compete for over $30,000 in prizes, including a 2016 Polaris four-wheeler.

The team of Chad Angell and Josh Sansgaald won the top prize, bringing in the tournament limit of 50 fish weighing in at 19.91 pounds.

More than 3,700 fish were brought in by anglers to be weighed.

“We are happy to have this event on Clear Lake and it seems to get bigger and bigger each year— and the quality of fish gets better,” said Kevan Paul.

The Yellow Bass Bonanza draws both novice and skilled anglers and has grown to become one of the largest Ice Fishing Tournaments in the Midwest.