Staff photo by Fritz Busch Brock Olson of Morton ice fishes at the Sleepy Eye Sportsmens Club 38th Annual Fishing Derby at Sleepy Eye Lake Sunday.

SLEEPY EYE — Despite balmy weather causing several inches of slush to cover much of Sleepy Eye Lake Sunday, the Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club 38th Annual Fishing Derby drew 725 registered entrants.

“It was decent with the conditions. We had beautiful weather and a good turnout,” said Sportsmen’s Club member Lynn Krenz.

Cars and pickups were not allowed on the lake due to the recent warm weather, according to a decision by the Sportsmen’s Club and orders from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

Sportsmen’s Club members pitched in with all-terrain vehicles, hauling fishing derby participants and their gear including fishing houses, on and off the lake.

Carter Brandes of Courtland won the game fish category with a six pound, eight ounce Northern. He received $30 and a trophy.

“The fish tangled up three lines. It took me and my friends Dallas Bauer and Spencer Hoffman a few minutes to bring it in. I couldn’t have done it without them,” Brandes said. “All three of us were in Spencer’s ice fishing house.”

“It’s the biggest fish I’ve ever caught, except for catfish on the Minnesota River. I already have it in the oven,” said Brandes early Sunday night.

Carter said he’s been fishing since age eight.

“I really love fishing on Sleepy Eye Lake. You always get fish there. I often go there in the summer, fishing off the dock or in my uncle’s boat,” Brandes said. “I used a little tear drop jig and a minnow. I got lots of small panfish, but nothing to keep.”

Carson Kiecker of Fairfax finished second in the gamefish divsion with a five pound, 10 ounce Large Mouth Bass. Tim Herzog’s four pound, four ounce Northern placed third. Brian Muchio’s three pound, eight ounce Northern was fourth.

Aaron Cooke won the pan fish division with a one pound, eight ounce crappie. Holly Cooke was second with a one pound, three ounce crappie. Following were Aaron Furth with a one pound, two ounce crappie. Carter Filter was fourth with a one pound crappie.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.