January 26, 2013

Darren Phillips of Montreal smiles during the topless category of the Merland Park Annual Ice Fishing Derby in Picton, Ont. south of Belleville Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (Luke Hendry/QMI Agency)

PICTON, ONT - These anglers will give you the shirts off their backs — if you offer them prizes.

More than 20 men tried topless ice fishing in Picton on Saturday during the fourth Merland Park Annual Ice Fishing Derby.

Each winter, park owners Jennifer and Kevin Lavers challenge anglers to try a series of fun on-ice games, including golf on a frozen section of Lake Ontario's Picton Bay.

But it was the sight of bare beer bellies that attracted an amused crowd to the park. Anglers couldn't wear a shirt until they hooked something.

The weather was an overcast -8C — practically summery compared to the below-zero double digits earlier in the week, but still enough to redden bare skin.