A little over 750 people registered to take part in the fishing tradition. Most of those fishing did so from inside ice fishing shacks, but some braved the elements, preferring to remain out in the open.

Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club president Sam Domeier said they were fortunate temperatures took a turn for the cold in the week leading up to the tournament. A few weeks earlier, all ice houses were ordered off the lake with a few breaking through the ice during a recent thaw. However, by Sunday, the ice was again safe for vehicles. Ice thickness was estimated at between 16 inches and 18 inches of ice on the lake.

“It is one of the better years,” Domeier said. Though temperatures were low enough to maintain strong ice, it was not too cold, with temperatures holding around 20 degrees for most of the tournament.

Domeier said he liked to see the large fish houses on the ice. That usually meant a family with young kids was fishing.

Blake Krenz holds up a sunny he caught during the Sleepy Eye Ice fishing tournament Sunday. Krenz said the fishing was pretty good, he managed to pull multiple panfish out of the water.

“The little ones are the group that will keep this tradition going,” Domeier said.

There were several kids participating in the derby. Some were there catching fish while others were observing.

Middle-schooler Blake Krenz said the fishing was pretty good Sunday. He managed to pull several different pan fish out of the lake by the end of the tournament.

Other kids attending the derby were just interested in the process. Young Caleb Chartier hung around the tournament weighing station to get a look at the larger fish. He assisted in releasing many of the fish back into the water.

Most of the fishermen were doing catch and release to ensure the lake remained stocked and a strong place to fish.

Brad Sellner and his kids Millie and Leo traverse Sleepy Eye Lake during the ice fishing tournament.

Fisherman Alex Chandler caught a decent-sized walleye during the competition, but made sure to return it to the lake after catching it.

“It’s good to keep those fish in the lake,” he said.

Domeier confirmed that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires any northern taken out of the lake to be at least 24 inches and there was a limit of two northern per person.

During the tournament, the most common fish caught were the sunfish. Over 40 sunnies were caught during the derby, along with roughly a dozen crappie, a dozen northerns, 10 perch, five walleye and three bass.

One of the few bass caught came from fisherman Richard Willinger. He managed to net a 3 lb 8 oz bass, which gave him second place in the tournament in that category. Willinger said he was surprised to catch the bass because he was actually trying for panfish.

Josh Altmann of Sleepy Eye (left) and Patrick Bakken of New Ulm (right) share a bench during the Sleepy Eye Ice fishing tournament.

Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club 44th Annual Ice Fishing Derby winners are as follows:

Walleye

First place walleye–Mike Schnabrich (5 lbs 1 oz)

Second place walleye–Alex Dunker (12 oz)

Third place walleye–Scott Juni (11 oz)

T.J. Gloege of New Ulm watches his sonar during the Sleepy Eye Lake Ice Fishing derby. Gloege said this was his first time fishing in the tournament. He said early in the day, he a large fish on the line that got away. He hoped it would come back.

Northern

First place northern–Jeff Borowski (5 lb 1 oz)

Second place northern–Abigayle Sander (4 lb 10 oz)

Third place northern–Riley Thompson (4 lbs 5 oz)

Bass

Richard Willinger holds up his second place bass he caught during the Lake Sleepy Eye Ice Fishing derby. Willinger said he was actually trying to catch panfish but ended catching one of the largest fish in the tournament.

First place bass–James Davis (3 lb 12 oz)

Second place bass–Richard Willinger (3 lb 8 oz)

Third place bass–Gunner Brooks (2 lb 4 oz)

Crappie

First place crappie–Konner Gluth (15 oz)

Second place crappie–Jason Marlow (14 oz)

Third place crappie–Jason Marlow (13 oz)

Sunfish

First place sunfish–Carter Swenstad (14 oz)

Second place sunfish–Jon Mikelson (12 oz)

Third place sunfish–Brody Romsdahl (11 oz)

Perch

First place perch–Tyler Bunkers (5 oz)

Second place perch–Noah Wilmes (4 oz)

Third place perch–Emmaly Spielmann (2 oz)

Sleepy Eye Lake turned into a small community of ice fishing shacks on Sunday. Over 750 people registered for the Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club 44th Annual Ice Fishing Derby at Sleepy Eye Lake.