Our 52nd Derby could not possibly happen if it weren’t for many of our N.I.C.C. members who volunteer their time and energy to make this a successful fundraiser. Preparations for ticket sponsors begin well before Halloween, when members contact businesses who are truly generous enough to underwrite the cost of running the derby. Then it’s time to solicit local businesses to place an ad in our information booklet or donate an item for our auction.

Committees are formed for auctions, kids and adult games, fish judging, raffles, ticket and food sales. Back by popular demand is our Shanty Contest! When auction items are collected, they go to the auction chairperson who places them in the right category. The committee chairs are hard at work in the fall.

A few days before the derby, the announcers trailer is brought from the club grounds by volunteers to headquarters at Thirsty Turtle on Channel Lake. Then the big top tent arrives. The energy starts to sore and you surely know, “it is that time of year again.”

If you have never joined us, please do so. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the good old-fashioned winter fun. There will be raffles and games for the children and adults both days. Weather permitting, there will be Chicken Poop Bingo on Sunday afternoon. This year fish judging and food will be inside the tent. Come watch the fishermen register their catch of the hour hoping to win a prize for the smallest or the largest fish. When you get hungry there’s plenty of good food at the Conservation Café. Don’t forget our children’s auction held on Sunday, February 12th at 3:00 pm. The adult auction is next followed by the main raffle.

In a few days you will be receiving raffle tickets. These tickets are selling for $3 a piece or 2 for $5. Remember, proceeds from this fundraiser helps defray our yearly expenses. Raffle ticket sales are one of the most important parts of the derby and is how we are able to give back to the community. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of tickets will go to the scholarship program. If you need additional raffle tickets to sell to your friends, co-workers, relatives or neighbors, please contact us via email or by calling 847-395-6422.

Thank you everyone for making this a wonderfully fun and successful derby. The laughter, jokes and smiles on your faces and the faces of our guests were priceless and are what makes me look forward to next year’s derby.

Enjoy the weekend’s events in our gallery below.

Sponsored by
Northern Illinois Conservation Club
5lst Chain O’ Lakes Ice Fishing Derby & Winter Festival

$100 Cash for each category
Best Presentation & Most Creative

The winner of each category will receive $100 cash. Winners will be announced at Headquarters on Sunday, February 13th prior to the auction (approximately 2:30 pm).

Contest Rules:

1. Registration will open at 7:00 am on Saturday, February 12th at the announcer’s trailer at Headquarters on Channel Lake.
2. All entries must be registered by 11:00 am on Saturday.
3. All entries must be homemade.
4. Your entry number must be displayed on the outside of your shanty.
5. Judging will begin at noon on Saturday, February 12th and will continue through the afternoon.

More details in our Newsletter!

Download a copy!

NICC Derby Flyer PDF Download

Congratulations!

Northern Pike:
Large: 36 7/8 | Nathan Zeien Antioch
Small: 25 | Eric Beeter McHenry

Walleye:
Large: 16 5/8: | Jeff Parsons Oregon
Small: none caught

Bass (Large/Small Mouth):
Large: 19 1/8 | Greg Coull Fox Lake
Small: 14 3/8 | Steve Schmidt McHenry

Catfish:
Large: 25 1/8 | Chris Zeien Antioch
Small: 19 ¼ | Bruce Frentz Lake Villa

Crappie:
Large: 14 | Shawn Schuld Antioch
Small: 5 ¾ | Ray Fett Chicago

Striped/Bass
Large: 11 5/8 | Jeff Parsons Oregon
Small: 5 1/8 | Kelly Forst Waukegan

Perch:
Large: 12 ¼ | Jeff Parsons Oregon
Small: 3 | Mart Artos Fox Lake

Bull Head:
NONE

Bluegill/ Sunfish/ Rock Bass:
Large: 9 1/8 | Jeff Parsons Oregon
Small: 3 ½ | Brad Irving Antioch

Overall Large Fish:
36 7/8 Northern Pike by Nathan Zeien

Most Creative was a tie:
Christ & Zeek Zeien and Daniel Hucker

Most Unusual was a tie:
Andrew Noland of Lake Villa, IL and Jeff Lemke of Antioch

Click here to download the PDF article in January’s Outdoor Illinois.

This festival is more than just ice fishing, it brings families together and provides fun for everyone. We have third generation fisherman – grandfathers bringing their sons and grandsons to this yearly event. Our founding fathers, William Brook and Dick Waters, would be pleased to see these families continued excitement and enjoyment of this event.

As the Northern Illinois Conservation Club is a not-for-profit*, privately funded organization, funds come from member’s dues, fund-raising activities and donations. Our educational programs on various conservation, wildlife and preservation subjects are open to the public, at no charge.

The Northern Illinois Conservation Club exists today due to the support of so many. That support is how we are able to continue our 50 year mission. Funds raised at this event allow us to continue the work of our founding fathers by providing scholarships to local area high school students, education programs on various safety, conservation, wildlife and preservation subjects, a location for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to earn badges and learn more about the outdoors, and a wildlife habitat for so many displaced wildlife in the Antioch area.

2010 Fishin’ Derby Sponsor Information

It’s that time of year when we turn our energy to our next fundraiser. We are looking for donations for the auction to be held on Sunday, Feb.14th. If any of the membership knows of a person or business who would like to place an ad in our information booklet please call Ken Golonka at 847-395-3087