Based upon tests of ice thicknesses and the integrity of the ice sheet on Great Sacandaga Lake, last weekend a decision was made to hold the Walleye Challenge as scheduled this coming Saturday, Jan. 28. Registrations for this event reached the maximum 1,500 mark over a month ago but for those of you who were lucky enough to enter the event in time, here’s some basic information to refresh your memory.

The contest will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and you can fish anywhere on the lake. A total of $45,000 in cash and merchandise prizes will be awarded - $1,000 per hour plus $9,000 in miscellaneous prizes plus drawings for ATV’s or snowmobiles (three will be awarded.)

The hourly prizes for the four largest walleyes entered each hour will be awarded in the following fashion - $550 for first place, $300 for second, $100 for third and $50 for fourth place. There will be two weigh stations for the Walleye Challenge - one out on the ice in front of Lanzi’s on The Lake and the other, also on the ice, in front of the  State Boat Launch on Lakeview Road, Broadalbin.

You can bring any walleyes to be entered in the event to either one but all prizes will later be distributed at the main location at Lanzi’s on the Lake, where all the other prizes will also be distributed.

The annual Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation Ice Fishing Contest will also be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 and will offer $1,500 in prizes in the northern pike, perch and trout divisions, meaning you can now enter just about anything you catch in one contest or the other, provided you’re entered in both.

The Fisheries Federation Contest will be headquartered at the Sacandaga Boating Club which will also serve as the sole measuring station (judging will be by length) and the contest hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The entry fee is $15 per person though youngsters 12 and under can participate for free if fishing with an adult who has paid the entry fee. Three prizes of $300, $150 and $50 will be offered in each of the three divisions cited above. During the contest you can call 518-227-8298 for up-to-the-minute information on the status of the prize board.

There are plenty of activities planned for this weekend and the very next ice fishing contest on GSL will be the Fish House Fish & Game Club event on Saturday, Feb. 11. This contest was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14 but was moved to its alternate date of Saturday, Feb. 11 due to iffy ice conditions in January.

All other contest details remain the same. It will still 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 4 p.m. contest closing time.

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

The entry fee for this event is $20 per person, which includes free chili and coffee which will be served at the weigh station between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. the day of the event.Contest entry forms are still available and will be accepted 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.

The Second Annual Reid Hill Fish & Game Club Ice Fishing Contest on Great Sacandaga will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, headquartered at Driftwood Park in Mayfield. The entry fee for this event is $15 for pre-registrations or $17 the day of the event.

The contest hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and three prizes each will be awarded in the walleye, trout, northern pike and yellow perch divisions. There will be a 100 percent payback in prize money.

Winners will be determined by the length of the entry and Driftwood Park will serve as the sole measuring station as well as the headquarters. Beef stew and hot coffee will be available free of charge at the Driftwood Park measuring station throughout the contest for anyone needing a warm-up during or after a day out on the ice.

Early registration entry forms are available at: Ross’ Bait Shop in Hagaman, Jim’s Bait Shop in Mayfield, Wally’s Driftwood Park in Mayfield, Tuman’s Tavern in Amsterdam, Fuel & Food in Mayfield,  and Skiba’s Tavern in Amsterdam. Those entry forms will also contain additional details about the event.

If you need any information about this contest you can call Ray Fyfe at 843-3451 or Ed Krzysko at 842-5456.