Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Sportsmens Club members pose in front of a 2024 Ice Castle fish house.

SLEEPY EYE — For the first time in 42 years, winter weather doesn’t agree with the Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club Annual Fishing Derby on Sleepy Eye Lake.

Due to unusual ice conditions, no one will be allowed on the lake and no fishing will be allowed.

“We decided as a club that it would be safer not to have fishing this year. We get a lot of kids out there. We don’t want something bad to happen,” said Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club President Lynn Krenz.

“I’ve never seen a heat wave like this in January. It’s strange how we can go from ten below to 50 above in a few days. We’re seeing more temperature and moisture extremes in the past year,” Krenz added.

The New Ulm temperature of 54 degrees Wednesday broke the all-time high record of 49 degrees in 1995, according to the Journal’s temperature data.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Ponds of water appear near the edge of Sleepy Eye Lake Wednesday. The warm temperatures caused the Sleepy Eye Sportsmens Club to not allow fishing on the lake Sunday.

“Hopefully, people will come out and support us Sunday because this is our main fundraiser. Prize winners don’t have to be here, but we hope they are,” Krenz said.

“The fishing holes that were drilled a week or two ago are getting bigger now,” said Krenz.

However, all other fishing derby activities will take place in Sportsmen’s Park starting at 1:30 p.m.

Hot food including hamburgers, hot dogs and chips will be sold. No beer will be sold but Krenz said participants can bring their own beer to the park.

S’mores (desserts made of toasted marsh-mellows and chocolate sandwiches between two pieces of graham cracker are available.

Anybody interested in singing karaoke is invited to do so on the public address system. Music will also be played. Bean bag tossing will take place in the park.

The Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club has donated to many organizations in the past year including the Sleepy Eye Serviceman’s Club, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the Sleepy Eye Pond Hockey Club, the City of Sleepy Eye, Sleepy Eye and Morgan Fire Departments, Sleepy Eye and St. Mary’s High Schools, and the New Ulm Sertoma Club, among others.

Overflow parking will be available at Lakeside Auto Body and Zinniel Tree Service property east of State Highway 4. Trailer shuttles with hay bales and side by sides will be used.

The fishing derby began in 1982 when Sportsmen’s Club President Dale Evers suggested the club start a fishing derby to raise money.

“We started with a station wagon and a public address system. We had about 100 people for the first fishing derby,” said club member Larry Evers.

More than 1,000 anglers have participated in recent fishing contests on the lake.