Hitting the walleyes on Lake Hanska
Firefighters, fishing and fun at Hanska Lake Ice Fishing Tournament
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Peter Theis of Jackson, Minnesota braves the cold wind on Hanska Lake. Theis said thanks to his tent blocking the wind behind him and the propane heater in front of him it was actually a very comfortable ice fishing experience. See more photos on 7A.
Matt Mickson (left) and BJ Sprenger (right) settle into their fishing tent for a long day of the ice fishing. Neither has been fishing much this season, but both wanted to support the local fire department.
Steve Braulick caught a 26 inch, 3.17 pound walleye in the opening hour of the Hanska Lake Ice Fishing contest, setting the curve for the tournament. Walleye are common on Hanska Lake, but a three pound fish is rare.
New Ulm couple Brandan and Maizie Arndt remain warm and comfortable inside their heated fish house. This was Maizie’s first time ice fishing and this was Brandan’s first time on Hanska Lake.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Assistant Fire Chief, Mikale Gustafson, prepares to weigh the latest fish caught in the ice fishing tournament.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Peter Theis of Jackson, Minnesota braves the cold wind on Hanska Lake. Theis said thanks to his tent blocking the wind behind him and the propane heater in front of him it was actually a very comfortable ice fishing experience. See more photos on 7A.
Matt Mickson (left) and BJ Sprenger (right) settle into their fishing tent for a long day of the ice fishing. Neither has been fishing much this season, but both wanted to support the local fire department.
Steve Braulick caught a 26 inch, 3.17 pound walleye in the opening hour of the Hanska Lake Ice Fishing contest, setting the curve for the tournament. Walleye are common on Hanska Lake, but a three pound fish is rare.
New Ulm couple Brandan and Maizie Arndt remain warm and comfortable inside their heated fish house. This was Maizie’s first time ice fishing and this was Brandan’s first time on Hanska Lake.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Assistant Fire Chief, Mikale Gustafson, prepares to weigh the latest fish caught in the ice fishing tournament.
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HANSKA -- With temperatures back below freezing the Hanska Lake Ice Fishing contest went off without a hitch Saturday.
The ice fishing tournament was sponsored by the Hanska Firefighters Association. The tournament serves as an equipment fundraiser.
Assistant Hanska Fire Chief, Mikale Gustafson, said this year the department is seeking extra fund to cover the cost of a new pumper truck.
The weather was nearly perfect with temperatures in the high 20s. Dick Smith, a veteran of the Hanska Fire Department, said a few people were concerned the ice would be too thin, but by Saturday morning Hanska Lake had over18 inches of ice and more important the fish were biting.
In the first 45 minutes of the tournament several panfish and walleye were caught. Fisherman Steve Braulick set the pace for the day by catching a 26 inch, 3.17 pound walleye early in the contest.
Braulick said he had caught bigger walleye before, but never on Hanska Lake.
Tournament prizes were to be awarded in three categories; walleye northern, panfish and overall biggest fish. The top prize was a 10 inch Jiffy Propane Ice Auger. Second place with a two-man portable fish house. Third and fourth received $50. A separate raffle was also held for two new four wheelers. Gustafson said the 2,500 raffle tickets sold out a half hour before the tournament.
Over 200 people registered for the ice fishing contest within the first half hour. Contestants came from all over Brown County and even further to support the Hanska Fire Department.
Peter Theis came to the tournament from Jackson, Minnesota. Theis was visiting his son and daughter-in-law who both worked as Gibbon Firefighters.
"These area fire departments really care about each other," Theis said.
Local insurance salesman, Garrett Freeman and his friends took part in the tournament to remember their friend, Tim Piepgras, a member of the Hanska firefighter who passed away in August from cancer.
"This is the first tournament he's not around for so we're here to honor him," Freeman said.
The Hanska Lake Ice Fishing Tournament is only the first of several area Ice Fishing contests held this time of year. The Sleepy Eye Sportsman's Club will hold its 35 Annual Fishing Derby on Lake Sleepy Eye from 12 pm to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 5.
The New Ulm Area Sport Fisherman will hold their annual ice fishing contest on Feb. 12 on Clear Lake.