Beaver Pride's third annual Hardwater Classic set for Jan. 15

As the January winds whisk in from the north and temperatures plunge below zero, Bemidji State University offers an opportunity for all of Northern Minnesota to embrace the outdoors. Beaver Pride, the scholarship fund-raising arm of BSU athletics, has set aside January 15 from 12-3 p.m. for its third annual Hardwater Classic.

In its third year, the Hardwater Classic is a catch-and-release ice fishing tournament held on Lake Bemidji in conjunction with Brrmidji Polar Daze events. All proceeds of the annual fund-raising event directly benefits the Bemidji State University athletic scholarship fund.

The 2011 event promises to be bigger and better than ever. In addition to a $1,000 cash prize for the largest fish pulled through the ice, prizes such as pop-up fish houses, Glide-Lite sleds and ice augers will be awarded for the first 50 fish caught. Any participant lucky enough to land a specially tagged fish will be awarded a 2010 Honda CRV courtesy of Honda of Bemidji. Moreover, anglers will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2010 Polaris Ranger 400 side-by-side ATM donated by Bemidji Sport Centre and Polaris. Participants that are able to land a fish the length of their ticket will be entered for a chance to win an Ice Castle green fish house from Corner Sports. In all, cash and prizes exceed $40,000.

Participants are encouraged to park in the Bangsburg parking lot, located on the BSU campus at the corner of 15th Street and Birchmont Drive NE, and will be transported to the pre-drilled holes at the tournament site by hay wagon. The only on-ice parking will be for handicapped vehicles and must be marked as such.

A pre-tournament rules meeting will take place at 11:15 a.m. at the tournament site the day of the event.

For rules, previous event photos or to register visit http://www.hardwaterclassic.org. Registration can be made by calling
218-755-2294 and registration forms can be picked up at Gander Mountain,
Bluewater Outdoors and the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting locally.

Registration is $25 for the general public and $15 for Bemidji State University students with a valid ID.

All registration forms and payment received by Jan. 12 will be entered into a drawing for a GPS compliments of Gander Mountain.