Discover Ice Fishing Tips from North East Ice Tour Pro Anglers

Harrisburg, PA – The Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) is inviting anglers and the general public to a special evening seminar on January 24 featuring professional ice fishing anglers from the North East Ice Tour. The seminar will be held at the PFBC headquarters from 7-9 p.m. in conjunction with the agency’s quarterly business meeting.

“Ice Fishing: The Basics and Beyond” will feature pro anglers Bob Griffith, Mike Kuna and Byron Eckardt. They will discuss ice safety, apparel, equipment and tools, and tips and tricks, and they will share their experiences as professional anglers. Griffith and Kuna topped the points race to be named Team of the Year in 2010 in the North East Ice Tour, a series of professional level tournaments held throughout the Northeast US. The event will also feature pro Byron Eckardt, who operates the NE tour.

The event is free and no registration is required. There is plenty of parking at the PFBC headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg.

Bob Griffith is a resident of Vandergrift, Pa., and has been fishing since he was six-years-old. He extended his open water season to include ice fishing in 1992 and fell in love with the sport. He quickly progressed from pure fun fishing to successfully competing in tournaments for the last eight years. He has fished from Vermont to Minnesota, from Lake Erie to Maryland. He and his partner Mike have had multiple top 10 placements in tournaments as well as two first place wins. They topped the points race to be named Team of the Year in 2010 in the North East Ice Tour. Bob is a Pro Staffer for Clam corporation, Maki Plastics, Jason Mitchell fishing rods and Charlie Brewer slider grubs.

Mike Kuna resides in Pittsburgh, Pa., and has been an avid ice fisherman for seven years. Along with his cousin and fishing partner, Mike has fished in ice fishing tournaments throughout the ice belt and the Northeast. As a team Mike and Bob have won ice fishing tournaments and are the current anglers of the year for the North East Ice Fishing Tour. Mike is a Pro Staffer for Clam corporation, Maki Plastics, Jason Mitchell fishing rods and Charlie Brewer slider grubs. Mike and Bob are also the cofounders of The Keystone Crappie Association in PA.

Byron Eckardt resides in Halifax, Pa., and has been ice fishing the lakes of central Pennsylvania for over 30 years. In addition to being an avid ice angler, Byron operates the North East Ice Tour. Byron is also a Pro Staffer for Jiffy Ice Drills and publishes The North East Ice Fisherman.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.