The first official pre-fishing session at the 2026 World Ice Fishing Championship in Piteå, Sweden, is officially in the books, according to Joe Martinez, the team is already firing on all cylinders. Joe notes that the squad spent the day effectively “interrogating” the Swedish perch through 30 inches of ice, walking away with a mountain of intel they’ll be refining over the next 48 hours.
While the conditions are grueling—especially with the “no power auger” rule in effect starting Saturday—the crew is going over the fine details to ensure their strategy is airtight. However, today, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, they made it through approximately 30 inches of ice and are only allowed to use electronics for pre-fishing; however, they are not allowed to go “in the zone.”
If you want the full breakdown of what they’re up against near the Arctic Circle, Joe and Vice President Thane Melton actually sat down with “Downrigger” Dale on the Montana Outdoor Podcast last week to dish on the bizarre rules and their Nordic game plan.
Joe and the team are bracing for the main event this Saturday! Good luck, and GO TEAM USA!
Check out the full episode here:
Photo courtesy of Joe Martinez
