Brice Prairie Conservation Association

A Hardwater Tradition

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63rd Annual Brice Prairie Ice Fishing Derby

Saturday February 4, 2023

North Shore, Lake Onalaska

Winning Fish Board from the 2023 Derby

A beautiful clear sunrise greeted the 2023 derby, with temperatures warming through the day from the prior cold spell, starting in low teens (above!) and warming to 31 degrees at the close of the derby. Winds were out of the south about 10 mph.

Fishing started at sunrise and ended at 3:00pm sharp. Derby headquarters was once again be the big heated tent at the upper parking lot of Mosey Landing, W7207 Northshore Lane on Brice Prairie (north shore of Lake Onalaska). Cash prizes were offered for 1st thru 4th place for five fish species: bass, northern, bluegill, perch, and crappie.

2023 Derby Fishing Results

• Northern Pike (lbs)

  1. Steven Smith   7.71
  2. Scott Stroziasky   6.41
  3. Ryan Wall   5.95
  4. Jan Barra   4.78

• Bass (lbs)

• Crappie (lbs)

  1. Jerry Jerue   1.36
  2. Brian Baker   1.06
  3. Riley Sobkowiak   1.00
  4. Brian Hanson   0.86

• Bluegill (grams)

  1. Heather Chapel   299
  2. Willis J   259
  3. Andy Hall   251
  4. Dan Chandler   237

• Yellow Perch (lbs)

  1. Josh Renolds   1.90
  2. Susie Black   1.46
  3. Jerry Jerue   1.44
  4. Randy Tenner   1.29

2023 Derby Raffle Results

Blind: Dennis Cramer

$1000: Andy Mason  $500: Alisa Sokolik  $400: Jolivia Werlein  $250: Rachel Guesraro  $250: Cindy Metille  $250: Bruce Van Berkam  $100: Andrea Colber  $100: Ralph Tolokken  $100: Adam Mahutgo  $100: Afton Hamill  $100: Kurt Mashak  $100: Mark Anderson

Proceeds from the derby and raffle go to support ongoing BPCA conservation projects, including:

• Wood duck houses (over 28,000 ducklings hatched since 1988)
• Bluebird houses: 2,668 nestlings fledged in 2014 from houses maintained in the area
• River and bike trail cleanups
• River island reforestation: rearing and planting oak, hackberry, and elm trees
• Fisheries habitat improvement (Lake Onalaska fish cribs, overwintering habitat)
• Emergency shelters and light beacon on Lake Onalaska
• Annual $500 conservation college scholarship
• Sponsoring local Boy Scout Troop 21
• Boat landing improvements
• Vegetation cutting in Lake Onalaska travel routes