The school day for many Manitoban high school students looked a little different Tuesday: Many packed lures and bait in their backpacks instead of pencils and notebooks.

Vanessa Hildebrand was among hundreds students who took to the ice of Lake Winnipeg near Balsam Harbour for the third annual Manitoba High School Ice Fishing Championship.

The Grade 9 student at Morden Collegiate Institute loves fishing for walleye during the spring and summer, but this was her first time ice fishing.

“When you, let’s say, catch a fish or something, it’s such an exciting moment and you get to experience it,” Hildebrand said. “And if you’re doing it with other people, it’s a lot more fun.”

Students lined up on the ice at about 9 a.m. and, at the sound of a horn, made a dash to claim one of 2,000 holes drilled on Monday. They had a half-hour to prepare before dropping their lines in at 10 a.m.

Schools — there were 77 this year — register as teams, and participants get three hours to fish. The team with the most fish by the end of the derby wins the banner.

Organizer JJ Ross says the championship replicates what the Manitoba High School Athletic Association does by having A, AA, AAA and AAAA categories. The distinction allows schools to compete on an even level with schools of similar sizes.

The championship, now in its third year, is growing fast.

The first year reeled in 700 students, Ross says, while last year the number grew to just under 1,200, rising this year to about 1,400.

“It’s unbelievable to see that many schools at an event,” Ross said. “They come from Thompson all the way to Waskada, all over the entire province, so we get a true representation.”

Ross, who is also the health co-ordinator for the St. James Assiniboia School Division, his division was the only one it the first year. He and Dustin Bruce, another organizer, expanded it when other schools showed interest.

Anyone who catches a fish also lands a prize, often fishing gear such as fish finders, augers and tackle.

“It all depends on the bite,” Ross said. “Fishing is fishing.”

Seth Mourant has fished in every provincial derby. While the Grade 12 École Pointe-Des-Chênes student hasn’t caught a fish, he still enjoys the time out of a classroom.

“You get to hang around with lots of different schools, see lots of different people, enjoy the outdoors and just catch fish instead of being in class,” Mourant said. “It’s a pretty nice trade for a change.”

Each year he tries different tackle and bait to try get a bite. His setup this year included a small fish finder and a Rippin’ Rap, a lure with a ball inside that rattles, attracting fish to the sound.

Mourant says it’s nice that the derby introduces new fishers to the sport.

“There’s not many people that do it,” he said. “I think it’s pretty important to try to pass it down to the younger generations like us.”

This year the winners are:

• Strathclair Community School/A Division.
• Dauphin Regional Secondary School/AA Division.
• College Béliveau/ AAA/AAAA category was the winner.

However, judging by the fun the students had, they were all winners.