...Island Lake Ice Fishing Derby

The reader board at the local fire station announced the event. Dave delivered hot dogs to the ice fishers in an insulated hot dog delivery bag.

The scene at the registration/weigh-in station before the event started.

Michelle peers out of the window of her ice fishing tent during the derby.

Ice fishers, tents, augers, snowmachines, folding chairs, fishing rods, ice skimmers, buckets...it was amazing to see how much equipment there was out on the lake!

The first annual Island Lake Ice Fishing Derby was a huge success by any measure. It was foremost a fund raiser for the Nikiski High Wrestling team and since over 100 ice anglers registered they did very well. The weather was perfect, too, with clear skies and average February temperatures. But, best of all the social scene was fantastic. People I had not seen for ages were out on the ice traveling from group to group catching up on the the events of each others lives. Then, along came Dave with an insulated pouch of hot dogs for the ice fishers to eat, complete with ketchup and mustard. We gobbled them down and continued fishing and talking.

So, we would visit, fish a bit, drill some new holes, change bait, eat a hot dog, bask in the sun, and visit some more. And it is here I should probably mention that I got skunked. Didn't catch a single fish. Nada. But, I really didn't mind. I was having such a great time visiting that I really didn't seem to notice.

At the end of the day we all rode over to the weigh-in station where the fish were officially weighed and the prizes awarded. It was a jovial scene and everyone clapped and cheered as the ice fishing champions were announced. After the ceremony people stood around and visited some more. It was a great day and I can't wait for next year's...Island Lake Ice Fishing Derby.