 Walker Bay was busy today as the annual International Eel Pout Festival got officially underway. Thousands of people will visit Walker for the festival this weekend that kicked off Thursday and goes through Sunday. The Eel Pout Festival has been a tradition for the last 40 years bringing around 10,000 anglers and spectators to the Walker annually. While the festival started out as a fishing tournament, it has grown to include other activities such as sled dog races, pout curling, chainsaw carving and much more. I mean there's different events that are happening all weekend long so it's something for all ages. Saturday tomorrow the kids perched kicks off at noon. That's a fun one. The first 50 kids that show up get free fishing rods and then they run up on stage with the perch and get to weigh it and ring the gong. So lots of different events happening all weekend long. Now due to some hazardous ice conditions out there, some portions of the lake, some vehicles restrictions have been put in place mainly on Walker Bay. No vehicles will be allowed within the event area through 8 a.m. Sunday morning. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.