Are you the parent or guardian of an avid or aspiring young angler? If so, you can join the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation at Buffalo Pound Lake for their Youth and Family Ice Tournament. 

Participants aged 2 to 15 will compete in the youth category for the top three prizes in the perch category and for the other fish category, including pike, walleye and burbot.  

The winner of the biggest fish by length in the youth categories will walk away with 25% of the total entry pool in cash and prizes from the sponsors of the event. Second and third place will receive prizes from the event sponsors. 

“The goal is really to try and get every child that attends to have a really positive experience, to catch a few fish and take something home that will keep them interested in fishing,” said Todd Smith, President of the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation and Tournament Chair. 

Adults (16 and up) will compete for the largest fish caught, and the winner will take home a prize from one of the sponsors, with only the top spot receiving a prize.  

A barbeque lunch will be provided to contestants, sponsored by HUB meats, for the event. 

There are currently 85 participants pre-registered for the tournament, but if you missed the pre-registry deadline you can still enter. 

“We will be accepting registration on the ice the morning of the tournament. We’ll be out in front of the Buffalo Pound Provincial Park boat launch in a big white trailer,” says Smith 

Applications will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. with the fishing starting at 10 a.m.  

Tournament fees are as follows: 

  • $5 per child 

  • $20 per adult (16 and up, must accompany a child) 

  • $50 per family 

Half of the entry fees go towards the two children who place first in either category, with the remainder being dedicated to fund the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation’s education programming. 

“We do things like the Fish in Schools program, which is running right now, where kids get to raise rainbow trout in the school, that get stocked into the Buffalo Pound Trout Pond here in June,” says Smith. 

“We also run the Pheasants and Classrooms program, which puts incubators in classrooms into Moose Jaw and surrounding area. Kids get to learn about pheasant embryology, a little about the habitat and what birds need. It's a hands-on learning project they can incorporate it right into their science curriculums within the class.”