If you thought your weekend plans were “cool” (punny), Joe Martinez is currently redefining the term over in Piteå, Sweden. As the President of the USA Ice Fishing team, Joe isn’t just drilling holes and hoping for the best; he’s leading a high-stakes masterclass in frozen finesse alongside Vice President Thane Melton. The duo recently “chilled out” (punny) with Downrigger Dale on the Montana Outdoor Podcast to dish on their Nordic adventures before jetting off to a town that’s basically Kalispell’s Arctic twin. Situated less than 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, Piteå is boasting a massive 40 inches of ice, which sounds great until you realize the tournament rules mean these guys have to drill every single hole by hand. That’s right—no powered augers allowed, just pure muscle and determination as they prepare to face off against ten other countries in this international showdown!
With the World Ice Fishing Championship officially kicking off on March 28th and 29th, the pressure is pretty darn high, but Martinez looks as relaxed as a guy in a heated shack…and he is definitely not in a shack, as you can see. To prove he’s not just soaking up the Swedish scenery, Joe has shared some footage showing how he’s prepping for the competition and tackling that thick ice.
FIf you’ve been living under a glacier and missed their deep dive on the podcast, you’ll want to catch the replay immediately to hear the full scoop on these mind-blowing European rules. Keep your eyes on these ice warriors as they represent the red, white, and blue—it’s going to be an absolutely legendary weekend on the hardwater, and we are sharing their updates as they produce them!
Check out the podcast from last week below for a refresher. Check back for more updates, as Team USA practices for the big tournament!
