The first of GSL’s annual ice fishing contests - the one sponsored by the Fish House Fish & Game Club -will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14.

The Jan. 28, 2012 annual Walleye Challenge Ice Fishing Derby is also rapidly approaching and here are the details of that event.

The entry fee is $30 and pre-registration is required. No registrations will be accepted after Dec. 31, 2011 and participation in this contest is limited to the first 1,500 entrants.

This may seem like a lot of entrants - and it is - but a number of potential participants were turned away last year, after that number had been achieved. 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 place, $100 for third place and $50 for fourth place.

Because these four prizes will be awarded for the four heaviest walleyes entered during a specific hour of the event, it is possible that the fourth place walleye during any one hour may actually be larger than the winning walleye in another hour.

The contest will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and you can fish anywhere on the lake.  You will be allowed on the ice prior to the 7 am starter but only to drill and clean holes and get your gear ready. No tipups may be set up and used prior to the starting time.

You’ll be issued a wristband after you register for the event and it must be worn throughout the contest in order to prove your registration. When you get that wristband be certain to not lose it since no replacements will be available.

The wristbands can be picked up at the Fuel N’ Food Store on Route 30, Mayfield, after Jan. 1, 2012. Also, all members of your fishing party must be registered in the event and also have wristbands.

No fishing will be allowed in any ice shanty or tent. In other words, you can spend all the time you wish in a shelter but all your fishing gear must remain outdoors and in plain sight.

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 of those weigh stations 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.

You’ll find all the details you need on the sheet that accompanies the registration form but if you have any questions or need more information you can  call the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce at 518-725-0641 or Lou Stutzke at Fuel N’ Food, 518-661-6917. I haven’t spoken with Lou recently so I don’t know if the magic number of 1,500 entrants has yet been reached but if it hasn’t, it will be soon so get your entry in ASAP.

GSLFF ICE FISHING CONTEST

The Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation’s annual ice fishing contest will also be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, the same day as the big Walleye Challenge event.

While the Challenge is strictly a walleye contest, the GSLFF event 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.

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.

For additional information now you can call Jack Smith at 863-4271 or Randy Gardinier at 848-7248. You can also get additional information by going to: www.gslff.com on the web.