Are you passionate about panfish? There is a league for that in Minnesota. In a world where there seems to be an event or option for just about everyone, fishing fans can follow along with the Ultimate Panfish League that is currently hosting competitions on some of Minnesota's most popular lakes.

It All Began In 2002

Matt Johnson, of Matt Johnson Outdoors , is the man behind the league. According to the Ultimate Panfish League (UPL) website, the league began in 2002 and was created to "offer panfish anglers an opportunity to compete—and learn—while targeting crappies and bluegills."

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Originally, the league competed in both the open water and hardwater seasons, but has since moved to just a winter-only fishing season, offering up four 1-day competitions.

Mixed Results So Far This Season

I just started following the UPL this season, and through two competitions, it seems like it's feast or famine for those angling, which is nice to hear as a weekend warrior.

This last weekend, the UPL was on Lake Byllesby, the largest lake in southern Dakota County, and it was a light leaderboard.

The first competition of the year was on Chisago Lake, near Lindstrom and Chisago City, and that saw some tight finishes, according to a post from the UPL on social media.

What Are The Rules To Competing In A UPL Event

The UPL website does have published rules, but the rules can change slightly from lake to lake. Here are the basics:

Team events (2 anglers per team, although you may fish alone if you choose). Max. of 30 teams per event
4 Ice Fishing Events (January, February, and March)
All events will be on Sunday.
Pre-fishing is allowed up until 11:59pm the day before the event.
No pre-drilling holes or setting up on a spot the morning of the event.

Future Events?

I couldn't find where the remaining two events will be taking place, but I did reach out to the UPL for some more details on the league, and I will hopefully get more information on where the last two events of the year will be taking place.