By Carla Kolbe

Express Editor

The fourth annual Walleye Challenge Ice Fishing Tournament, and the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation winter fishing tournament are both on as scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 28.

Last weekend, Walleye Challenge tournament initiators Lou Stutzke and Henry “Beaver” Ross ventured out on the Great Sacandaga Lake at one of its most vulnerable locations, near Sinclair Point, just south of Providence Beach.

Stutzke, a certified diver, explained the location where they drilled holes in the ice with an auger, can be unstable.

“An old road extends underneath the lake at this location, built long before the reservoir was flooded. The lake bottom rises and drops at least 8 feet from the road. The turbulent water current can eat away at the ice from the underside as it flows past the location,” Stutzke said.

Stutzke and Ross drilled a half dozen holes, finding solid ice ranging from 9 inches to more than 10 inches thick. Confident with the consistency and thickness of the ice, as well as the forecast, they determined the tournament may go on as scheduled.

“We will probably test again at the end of the week near Northville Bridge to make sure it is safe for contestants to pass,” said Stutzke, although they tested there previously and found the ice sufficient.

The Walleye Challenge will begin at 7 a.m. with hourly prizes, and will conclude at 3 p.m. There are two weigh stations: one at Lanzi’s on the Lake in Mayfield and one near the Broadalbin boat launch in Broadalbin.

The final raffle of two new Kowasaki ATVs and a new Arctic Cat snowmobile, along with many door prizes and giveaways will take place at Lanzi’s on the Lake, 1751 State Highway 30, in Mayfield, following the tournament.

You do not need to be present for the drawings. To claim any of the door prizes, you either have to be present to win or you have to pick up your prizes by 5 p.m. that day at Lanzi’s on the Lake.

This year, the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation (GSLFF) is conducting its winter tournament to coincide with the Walleye Challenge.

The tournament will be based out of the Sacandaga Boat Club in North Broadalbin, and will be measuring trout, perch and northern pike from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

“We are not including walleye in this tournament, so there will be no overlapping with the Walleye Challenge” said GSLFF chairman Randy Gardinier. “This way there will be no running back and fourth between tournaments, and the Walleye Challenge contestants can quickly release their fish.”

The $1,500 in cash prizes will be divided among three categories rather than four for this tournament.

The Walleye Challenge registration has been closed, filled with 1,500 ice anglers, for months. You can still register for the GSLFF winter fishing tournament at www.gslff.com, or up until 10 a.m. on location, the day of the tournament.

Officials ask participants to note that while the fishing tournaments are on for the weekend, it is advised that no cars or trucks be driven on to the ice.