Sportsman clubs across northeast Wisconsin rely on ice this time of year to support all of the weight anglers bring to their fishing tournaments. Fortunately for one club near Suring the ice made it in the knick of time.
The Kelly Lake Sportsman's Club Fishing Derby has been drawing the crowds to their tournament for 37 years running. But with this season’s unusual weather, they had to make some accommodations to make sure those who braved the ice stayed safe.
It's kind of a mess out on Kelly Lake today.
"There's a lot of standing water. We had a decent amount of rain last night," says Brandon Pendl of Suring.
"It was sketchy coming into it," adds Brian Wood of Green Bay who’s fishing with buddies and his son today.
"I didn't even know if I was going to come out this year," says Jerry Wyent who has been fishing this tournament for more than 20 years.
With ice as thick as 8 inches in some spots and five inches in others, many regulars to this tournament opted to skip this year’s event.
"Probably about 70 percent of what we are used to having," says Aryln Libal the President of the Kelly Lake Sportsman’s Club.
But for those that did show, they had some support on the sidelines just in case something happened. The Brazeau Dive team made an appearance out of safety concerns.
“It’s good that they’re there just in case something happens you know,” says Wood.
"We have never had to do that before. This is the most marginal conditions that Kelly Lake has faced this late in January," adds Libal.
For most that braved the ice today this weather though, was a welcomed yet unexpected perk for January.
"This year we've got barely enough ice. Just barely safe ice. But the weather is perfect, this is perfect. No gloves no coat," adds Wood.
So while you don't have to sweat staying warm on the ice right now. Just beware not every lake and not every fisherman, is quite ready to get out there just yet.
Typically the tourney will raise about 10 thousand dollars for the Sportsman’s club. All those profits are used to stock local streams and lakes and to fund local events in the community.
