Journal file photo by Clay Schuldt Ryder Britton holds a crappie she caught on her 10th birthday at the 2022 New Ulm Sportfishermen Ice Fishing Contest at Clear Lake. The 2026 ice fishing contest begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and continues to 3 p.m. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

NEW ULM — Fishing and ice reports are favorable for the 39th Annual New Ulm Area Sportfishermen Ice Fishing Contest on Clear Lake Saturday, Feb. 7.

“We have good reports of perch and crappies biting recently. There are also a very good amount of northerns that were released by the DNR (Department of Natural Resources),” said New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen member Garrett Freeman.

He said Clear Lake ice is 15 to 17 inches deep.

Tickets remain for a new Ice Castle fish house. Food from the “Simply Made Right” food truck and beverages will be available at the contest.

“If people want to stop out and support the club by buying food, they can certainly do that. We have prizes for all kids age 15 and under too. Lots of good things are going on out there. It’s gonna be a fantastic weekend,” said Freeman.

Fishing contest registration begins at 10:30 Saturday. Cost is $5 per person with payout for the largest fish. The contest runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Catch and release is encouraged after fish are weighed.

Parking will be available on the lake, along the road to it or on one side of a nearby township road.

Since it was created in 1986, the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen are committed to improving water quality and fish habitat within 50 miles of New Ulm.

For more information, visit www.newulmsportfish.org.