WESTON – After 15 years of holding the only ice fishing tournament in Cache Valley, Woodward’s County Store is discontinuing the event.
The tournament attracted a couple hundred people from across Cache Valley and far away as Ogden and even Idaho Falls. The reason for canceling the tournament wasn’t because there was no ice, it was because Idaho Fish and Game didn’t like the way it was run.
Idaho Fish and Game came to Van Woodward, who ran the tournament by himself, and wanted him to keep track of how many fish were caught in each reservoir, how big the fish were, how many fishermen were at each reservoir and other details. His competition used four reservoirs on the west side of the Bear River: Devils Creek, Weston, Deep Creek, and Twin Lakes reservoirs.
“It was ridiculous. I would have to pay someone to go to each reservoir and account for all that,” said Van Woodward. “I’m one guy and I can’t go all over and do that.”
He felt like it was the job of Idaho Fish and Game to keep track of all those numbers.
Woodward said there were going to be a lot of disappointed people this year.
“Half or the people were from out of state and had to pay $22.75 for an out-of-state license. That adds up,” he said. “And the ones that had in-state licenses adds up too.”
He said everything he made went into buying prizes. Last year the tournament had over 15 sponsors that donated prizes to the tournament. Woodward bought fishing poles and other tackle with some of the entry fees. He also gave trophies to the winners.
“There was never any money in it for me, but I think it was fun for the sportsmen who showed up,” he said. “I had to round up all the prizes and organize everything. I didn’t have to do any of that this year.”
Woodward said Idaho Fish and Game wasn’t very nice about it and told him if he applied to do it again, they weren’t going to give him a permit. He told them he wasn’t going to bother applying for it anymore.
“February was a great time to hold an ice fishing tournament because it’s a boring month for outdoorsmen,” he said. “All of the hunting was over, and unless you’re a trapper, there is not much to do. It was good for our town.”
For Weston, a town with a population of less than 500, the country store is the only retail business in town. So, when they can get 200 extra people in town it’s a big deal.