Women’s ice fishing tournament supporting local healthcare needs.
Paula Millar, Michael Naumann, Carla Ward, Amy Wangensteen
Fishin’ Chicks, the organization behind the popular annual women’s ice fishing tournament, has donated $5,000 to the Iron River NorthLakes Community Clinic to support the Community Health Worker program. The funds were raised during last year’s 2025 tournament and will be used as gift cards to help patients access essential services.
“We’ve really wanted to keep everything local, while staying true to our compassion care mission,” said Carla Ward of Fishin’ Chicks. “We approached the clinic to see how we could make a direct impact in our community.”
Founded in 2009 by Laurie and Jeff Soderlund, Fishin’ Chicks hosts an annual women’s ice fishing tournament to raise awareness for breast health and support compassion care for cancer patients. The organization has raised over $215,000 for breast cancer support and related health initiatives.
“This generous donation from Fishin’ Chicks will have an immediate and meaningful impact on our patients facing financial hardships,” said Michael Neumann, PT, DPT, Iron River clinic manager. “The Community Health Worker program connects people to vital resources, and this gift will provide critical support to families in our care; basic necessities like food or gas to get to appointments.”
The donation creates a circle of community support, allowing recipients to shop at the same local businesses that support the tournament through donations and sponsorships.
“The idea is that businesses locally have supported us for our event, and what we want to do is give back by having a gift card system through NorthLakes,” explained Amy Wangensteen. “Those people can then go back and use that at those same businesses.”
Join the 17th Annual Fishin’ Chicks Tournament
The community is invited to participate in the next Fishin’ Chicks tournament on January 17, 2026, at Moon Lake Park in Iron River. The event takes place on Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Day, so no license is required.
Registration is $40 for women competitors and includes entry into the fishing contest, lunch, entertainment, and raffle tickets. The event runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with activities at the Iron River Community Center. For more information, to volunteer, or to register for the tournament, visit fishinchicks.org or contact Amy Wangensteen at 651-983-9482.
“It’s really about community,” Ward emphasized. “There’s no rough competition going on. It’s about supporting women and supporting people who are in need.”
