Still Cold Open Ice Fishing Tournament to kick off Jan. 4 for 10th season

The Still Cold Open Ice Fishing Tournament on Big Lake celebrates the start of its 10th season on Jan. 4. Participants will be targeting trophy arctic char and rainbow trout for a chance to win cash prizes, fishing tackle and bragging rights for being crowned this year’s champion. This catch-and-release tournament highlights the lake’s unique char species and builds community within the Valley’s ice anglers.

“Our tournament really cares about Big Lake in itself, and the community,” Tournament Director Jerrid Hixon said.

This annual tournament is one of the largest in Alaska, according to Hixon. He took over as director three years ago and has grown the tournament to include 50, two-person teams. Each team pays $200 to compete. The goal, Hixon said, is to get more people outside during the wintertime and engage in some friendly competition.

“It’s competitive, but it's also friendly competition,” Hixon said. “It's also taken very seriously. These guys work their absolute tail off in some of the worst conditions that South Central Alaska weather can throw at you.”

Hixon remembered one day last year when it was -43 and competitors were still out on the lake. He said that the tournament can be long and grueling with tough fishing and even tougher conditions.

“The lake is nicknamed, ‘The Mistress,’” Hixon said. “It's called that for a reason because Big Lake is the toughest lake in the Valley to fish and it's high risk, high reward.”

An arctic char over 30 inches qualifies as a “trophy” through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) Trophy Fish Program. Hixon said he has seen char larger than 30 inches come out of Big Lake. He attributes the success of the tournament to the dedication of the anglers that chase these big fish. Some teams have been competing every year since the tournament’s start a decade ago.

“It's very addictive,” Hixon said. “You can go out there and catch nothing and wonder what the heck. And the next day you're going out and you're catching big, trophy-class arctic char. That’s what really keeps people going.”

Teams will meet in front of Susitna Brewing Company on tournament day at 8 a.m. and compete all day until 4 p.m. The longest combined length of the team’s five largest arctic char and rainbow trout will win first place. Char and trout must be over 12 inches to qualify and must be measured, photographed and documented according to the tournament’s rules. Incidental northern pike catches will be rewarded with five additional inches per pike added to the day’s total combined length.

First place finishers for the day will receive 100 points, second place will receive 98 points, and continue in the same pattern until last place. Awarded points will be doubled during the championship tournament. A bonus day after week three will be implemented to allow teams to add to their lowest day’s score up to that point in the season. Teams that join the tournament between the first and second day can make up their absence on bonus day. Teams will be split between “pro” and “recreational” divisions after week three and the bonus day based on standings. The top teams from each division will compete on championship day on March 2.

Hixon is a former fisherie’s biologist for ADFG and the Chickaloon Native Village. He explained how he submits tournament data on fish measurements and fish numbers to ADFG.This, along with the awareness that the tournament generates, has helped create a permanent catch-and-release regulation for arctic char on Big Lake.

“We got them the data that they needed to justify that the char needed to be protected as a specific phenotype of arctic char that are special to this area,” Hixon said.

Hixon said competitors like the new route that the tournament is taking. He anticipates a large turnout this year after last year’s success. Hixon and the board of directors have worked hard to incorporate local businesses, guide services and outdoor companies as sponsors in this year’s tournament. Hixon appreciates all of the support from companies like Kodiak Custom Fishing Tackle, 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle, Bass Pro Shops and Home Depot that make the tournament what it is.

Anglers looking for more information can attend the tournament’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/scofishing/ or their Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ice-fishing-tournament-still-cold-open-2025-tickets-1079967234069

No matter the weather and no matter the fishing, these diehard arctic char anglers will be gearing up for the tournament in the coming days.

“It's the big arctic char,” Hixon said. “Catching those is what keeps people coming. A lot of guys say that term, ‘the tug is the drug.’ They’re just addicted to fishing for big arctic char.”