Between mid-January and late March there seems to be something going on virtually every weekend. Let’s review some of the events occurring during the early part of January and then next week we’ll finish our January review.

The Fish House Fish & Game Club Contest on Feb. 11 will be headquartered at the Town of Providence parking area on Route 110, 1/4 mile north of Fish House Corners. It will offer $2,400 in prize money and the fishing hours will be 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with prizes awarded soon after the contest closing time.

Three prizes each will be awarded in the walleye, northern pike, perch and trout divisions in the following manner: first place walleye - $500, second place walleye - $150 and third place walleye - $100. Prizes in the northern pike, walleye and trout division will be as follows: first place in each of those divisions - $300, second place $150 and third $100.

The entry fee is $20 per person, which includes free chili and coffee served at the weigh station between 11 am and 4 pm the day of the event. Contest entry forms are available at the Fuel & Food Store, Frank’s Gun & Tackle, Ross’ Bait Shop, Laport’s Bait Shop, Jim’s Bait Shop and Dave’s Bait Shop.

Now let’s turn our attention to the Saturday, Jan. 14 ice fishing contest sponsored by the Caroga Fish & Game Club. That event will take place on East and West Caroga Lakes and the entry fee is $15 per person for early registrations or $20 the day of the event.

Contest hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the weigh station and headquarters will be at the Outlet Restaurant, located on Route 10, about one mile from the bridge that connects East and West Caroga Lakes.

There will be an 80 percent payback in prize money, with 20 percent held back for trout stocking. Prizes will be as follows: five prizes for the five largest pickerel entered; first and second places for trout, perch and crappie. There will also be a number of equipment and 50/50 raffles.

For additional info you can call Jim’s Bait Shop in Mayfield at 518-661-5724, or Jason at 518-835-2616.

On Saturday, Jan.  21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a Sportsman’s Swap Meet at the Wells Community Center on Route 30 in Wells. This event is being sponsored by the Wells Fish & Game Club and there’s a modest $2 entry fee for adults, though youngsters can attend for free.

Refreshments, snacks and baked goods will be available and there will also be raffle tickets and similar drawings held.

Most of you have attended one of these gatherings in the past so you know that there are some real bargains to be had on new and used sporting goods and related outdoor gear. For additional information you’re invited to call Nancy Lewis at 518-924-2110.

In next week’s column we’ll review other events coming up in the latter part of January, including the Walleye Challenge, the GSLFF Contest, and others.

EARLY ICE

Early ice is always a good time to fish though I’ve never had  a strong desire to be the first one out there. Last weekend I spoke with several anglers who have already fished Great Sacandaga and they told me they had an inch to two inches of ice where they fished.

Personally, I consider that a bit too thin to ice fish but some brave souls may do it. I like to wait until there’s a solid four inches of ice. If you visit the lake you’ll note that there’s plenty of open water out there, and perhaps even more now since we had some rain and milder temperatures during the latter part of last weekend.

Last Saturday, December 31, a number of nice walleyes were brought in by GSL anglers, including a dandy 26 inch, six pounder taken by Joe Benanto of Pattersonville/Mariaville. Joe was fishing near the Northville Bridge and he said he had four inches of ice there.

There was four or five inches on Mayfield Lake as well and there were at least 8 or 10 anglers out there. They caught a mixed bag of crappie, yellow perch and several nice pickerel. There was no snow cover on the ice of GSL or Mayfield Lake so if you decide to head out there, be sure to wear ice creepers.

MONTHLY CONTEST

Dave Allen of Dave’s Bait & Tackle, Bunker Hill Road, Mayfield, has resumed his popular monthly fishing contests, this time as ice fishing events. For additional information you can call the shop at 518-863-8318.