The temperature climbed into the mid 30s Saturday afternoon.

A retired construction worker, Sondag joined several hundred ice fishing contest participants in the 10th Annual Hanska Fire Department Ice Fishing Contest.

“I used to do this all winter when I worked construction during the warmer part of the year,” Sondag said.

He talked about where he plans to ice fish next.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Tom Braulick and his son Lennon ice fish on Lake Hanska Saturday.

“I heard there is some good perch fishing on Kansas Lake near St. James,” he added. “My cousin and I plan on going to ice fish on Big Stone Lake near Ortonville before long. We’ve had good fishing luck there in the past.”

Sondag said he planned to attend the Sleepy Eye Sportsmans Club fish derby on Sleepy Eye Lake Feb. 4 and the New Ulm Sport Fishermens Club contest on Clear Lake, south of New Ulm on Feb. 11.

Tom Braulick of rural Hanska and his son Lennon were ice fishing nearby.

“I grew up just a few miles from here,” Braulick said.

“A few weeks ago, we caught some walleyes on Lake Hanska but they were too small to keep,” he added.

“It’s been an interesting year. It’s nice to work this winter. I’ve been busy,” said Braulick, an electrician.

Mason Schottenbauer of Sleepy Eye was ice fishing nearby.

The ice fishing contest is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Hanska Fire Department.

“A few weeks ago, we didn’t know if we’d have the contest. There was water on the ice. Then the cold weather came and made all kinds of ice. Now we’ve got 12 to 14 inches of ice on much of the lake. We appreciate the continued support of the contest,” said Hanska fireman Rick Wellmann.

Hanska Ice Fishing Winners

Walleye

1.) Riley Strate 0.98 lbs.

2.) Hank Kirschsten 0.91 lbs.

Pan Fish — All Crappies

1.) Sawyer Olson 1.11 lbs.

2.) Ben Davis 1.11 lbs.

3. Sawyer Olson 1.10 lbs.

Largest Fish

Brandon Anderson 6.21 lbs. Catfish