Montana Duo Battles in 2025 World Ice Fishing Championship

Timothy Marsh and Thane Melton of Montana are swapping the frozen waters of Big Sky Country for the freezing lakes of Michigan in their run in the 2025 World Ice Fishing Championship. Happening now through Sunday, these two die-hard anglers will put their skills to the test as they support Team USA in competing against some of the best ice anglers in the world.

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It sounds like the chillest place for a battle: Tamarack Lake in Lakeview, Michigan. With teams coming from 10 different countries, there is nothing casual about this fishing derby, this is serious business. And unlike a lazy day on the ice, waiting for a big one to bite, this tournament is all about speed. According to fox17online.com, competitors will be catching and releasing as many small fish as they can, making ice fishing an endurance sport.

“This lake was selected for the World Championship because it’s ideal,” said Mike McNett, the U.S. Angling Fresh Water Fishing Director. “There’s a lot of small fish.” This means Marsh and Melton will need to remain razor sharp, punching holes, dropping lines, and pulling fish faster than Chilly Willy from the Woody Woodpecker cartoons.

These guys are hardcore outdoorsmen, pretty much like any Montanans. They’ve spent years honing their trade on the frozen lakes of the Treasure State, so they are ready to demonstrate what Montana anglers can do.

Will they come home with gold medals and bragging rights? We sure hope so! Either way, they’re making Montana proud and proving once again that we don’t mess around when it comes to fishing.