NAIFC Tournaments are multi-day, premier fishing events. The NAIFC Tournament Series season begins in January and lasts through March, with the NAIFC Tournament Series Championship Invitational held the following December. Each season consists of several regional qualifier events held in several states across the ice belt.
The NAIFC Tournament Series has a broad competitor base and offers an even playing field. NAIFC Tournaments are truly the hard-water equivalent to big time bass and walleye tournaments held during the open-water months. However, despite the growing sophistication of NAIFC competitors, these events remain approachable for newcomers. There is an unmistakable common-folk quality to the sport of ice fishing that seems to attract hard-working people who naturally like to help others excel in the sport. It is common for elite ice competitors who have spent years honing their skills and developing new techniques to pass their knowledge on to enthusiast ice anglers. This simply does not happen anywhere else in competitive fishing, and our sponsors recognize the value in the opportunities this creates.
The NAIFC Tournament Series consists of five to seven qualifying tournaments. Each qualifying tournament is a three-day event and has a maximum of 150 two-person teams.
The NAIFC Tournament Series Championship Invitational is a three-day event. The size of the field for the National Championship is set at 75 two-person teams.
Ice Camp is a popular industry-leading youth education program that is open to the public, and free of charge. Ice Camp events are advertised in area schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA and surrounding communities.
Ice Camp consists of in-class and on-ice fishing tutorials delivered by experienced, DNR certified NAIFC Pro-Staff instructors. In addition to demonstration of the latest techniques and sponsor provided equipment, the curriculum promotes safety, conservation and environmental stewardship.
Ice Camp starts in the classroom and finishes on the ice. In between, participants are invited to take a break from the action and enjoy a hot meal and beverage. Sponsors make available equipment and prizes for the activity, and kids who sign up and participate receive complimentary ice rods and tackle used in the tutorials.
Although Ice Camp is geared toward kids, all family members are encouraged to attend regardless of age. Introduction to the newest technology coupled with professional guidance gives both the parent and child a memorable ice fishing experience using sponsor products.
FRIDAY NIGHT SEMINARS
The NAIFC’s Friday Night Seminar Series is an unprecedented fishing education program that is held in conjunction with NAIFC Tournaments, open to the public, and free of charge. NAIFC Seminars are geared toward educating fishers on key aspects of tournament ice fishing. Each seminar features a recognized, industry-leading speaker, demonstration of the latest techniques and sponsor provided equipment and round-table consultation with NAIFC Pro-Staffers focusing on specific techniques on how to catch fish on the tournament lake. The curriculum also emphasizes safety, conservation and environmental stewardship. During the event, participants are encouraged to browse sponsor product displays. On the morning following the seminar, participants are invited to attend an on-ice tutorial held on the tournament lake, guided by NAIFC Pro-staffers.
The NAIFC Seminar Series stands apart as the only program of its kind in the world of competitive fishing. No other organization in the sport fishing industry offers this level of professional mentorship at no cost to the public.