Join us for Winterfest as we celebrate this year’s unusual season! The UP200 might not be here, but we do have sled dogs, food, contests, bingo, and fun for the whole family. Spread the word and come enjoy a rare glimpse of Grand Marais under the snow!
Join us on Saturday, February 15, 2025 as we welcome the UP200 mushers and their teams back to Grand Marais! It will be a fun winter celebration with food, merchandise, a silent auction, and some Winterfest activities presented by the Chamber of Commerce. As always, we expect the first teams to arrive mid-to-late morning but the weather determines a lot of that. The teams will rest here until early evening, so you will have a chance to see them up close. Watch for a schedule of events closer to the date.
Saturday June 28 2025
Open to all that want to participate!
Captains Meeting: Registration and Captains meeting will be held at the Grand Marais Community Center at 7:00pm Friday June 28 2025. At least one member from each fishing team must attend. Each boat will be given a number to be displayed during the Challenge for identification.
Challenge Committee: A Challenge committee will consist of 3 members of the Grand Marais Sportsman’s Club and 2 fishing contestants. This committee will preside over the Challenge and handle judgment on weather conditions, disputes, disagreements or violations of rules.
Entry Fee: Entry fee will be $150.00, with a 100% pay back for the first 5 places. Captains are encouraged to enter a side bet for largest fish, amount of side bet to be determined at Captains meeting.
Launch Fees: All launch fees must be paid prior to launching your boat.
Boat Checks: Random boat and cooler checks will take place between 5:00 and 5:45am. Make sure that you have only block and bagged ice, no loose ice will be allowed in your cooler.
Radio: All boats must have a working ship to shore radio, a radio check will be performed prior to the shotgun start. All Challenge communications will take place on channel 68.
Inclement Weather: A minimum of 2 hours fishing is needed to complete the Challenge. If this is not possible the Challenge will be cancelled and all money will be returned. The Challenge will only be cancelled if a Small Craft Advisory is in effect or if there is lighting.
Fishing Time: A shotgun start from a line south of the west pier will start the Challenge at 6:00am. All participants must be back inside the piers by 2:00pm, no exceptions. All participants will announce over their radio to tournament central when they are inside the piers.
Fishing Area: All boats must fish in a 12 nautical mile radius from the end of the west pier. Any boat caught fishing beyond 12 nautical miles will be disqualified. If a boat is suspected of fishing outside 12 nautical miles, the boat Captain will be required to show their GPS tracks for the day.
Fishing Techniques: All fishing techniques allowed by the DNR will be allowed, all types of bait will be allowed including cut and live bait in accordance with the DNR rules.
Disabled Boats: Boats must return under their own power to weigh in. No boat may come in physical contact with another boat unless authorized by tournament central, physical contact will disqualify both boats. Boats in distress, danger or life threatening situations must be dealt with accordingly. For a boating emergency contact the Coast Guard on channel 16.
Cooler Collection: Coolers are to be delivered to the Burt Township Marina, we will have people waiting there to collect them. Have your cooler ready to off load before pulling up to the marina wall, hand it over and move on so we can accept the next cooler. Do not block the marina wall, all boats have to drop off their cooler.
Weigh In: Weigh in will start at approximately 3:00pm at the ball field behind the Grand Marais Community Center. Each boat must have at least one person present for the weigh in and ready to sign for the final weight. Each boat may weigh up to 5 fish, in any combination of trout and salmon. Coolers will be weighed in the order in which they came in. Only the fish being weighed may be in the cooler, please be sure to empty all water out of the cooler and have only minimal ice.
Payouts: All payouts will based on weight, for the first 5 places, an additional payout will be paid for the largest fish, you must be entered in the largest fish side bet, to win. Winners will receive a cash payout.
Join us for this favorite Independence Day event presented by the Grand Marais Historical Society! All kinds of treasures and unique items, including autographed sports memorabilia, will be up for bid as we celebrate our town, past and present. And we have special raffle items just for kids! All proceeds go to fund our local museums. (Pssst: donations are VERY welcome! Text Cathy Egerer at 989-513-2614.)
(Chamber Event) Sip wine as you sample a variety of cheeses, shop the live and silent art auctions, admire the autumn leaves, and soak up our picturesque harbor view.
Buy your ticket here: