The annual Otter Lake Ice Fishing Contest took place Saturday, Jan. 17 at Otter Lake. Divided into children’s and adult contests, the contest saw people turn out from across the area.
The free kid’s ice fishing contest was sponsored by the Otter Lake Booster Club, with Stanley Rod and Gun Club sponsoring the adult contest.
Starting after 10 a.m., the kid’s ice fishing contest took place complete with warming tent and kids prizes provided by the Otter Lake Boosters off the south boat landing. Fishing bait for the kid’s contest was provided by Otter Lake Bait Shop, with free hot dogs and cocoa from Hansen’s IGA. Stanley and Thorp McDonald’s provided each attendee with a happy meal, while trophies and medals for the contest were provided by Adam Smit Investment Management.
Winners of the free kid’s ice fishing contest are as follows:

Zero to 10 years
Bluegill
1. Luke Briel, 235 grams
2. Breillia Burzynski, 233 grams
3. Drake Helfert, 184.8 grams
4. Oliver Overgard, 166.6 grams
5. Memphis Wickis, 91.8 grams

Crappie
1. Abby Cornell, 300.9 grams
2. Aspen Yaggy, 291.7 grams
3. Audrey Yager, 282.7 grams
4. Drake Helfert
5. Macy Pegrave, 41.3 grams

Perch
1. Axel Stift, 329.8 grams
2. Dax Fredick, 15.1 grams

11 to 15 years
Bluegill
1. Graham Markl, 245.4 grams
2. Oran Goodman, 192.4 grams
3. Mercades Wickis, 170.4 grams

Crappie
1. Olivia Kochendorfer, 369.7 grams
2. Ethan Acker, 332.8 grams
3. Finley Yager, 294.7 grams
4. Addalyn Yeager, 294.2 grams
5. Josh Bredl, 286.8 grams

Perch
1. Olivia Kochendorfer, 277 grams
2. Olivia Overgard, 60.7 grams

Also taking place Saturday at Otter Lake was the Stanley Rod and Gun Club Adult Fishing Contest, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. With fishing contest and a raffle, fishing contest winners were as follows:
Bluegill
1. Luke Walz, .64
2. Roger Charipar, .57
3. Samantha Dodge, .55

Crappie
1. Gunner Peterson, .99
2. Nate Morse, .97
3. Kyle Walters, .87

Perch
1. Dennis Helfert, .75
2. Nicole Winchell, .61
3. Dennis Helfert, .44

Bass
1. Brian Smasal, 3.71
2. Keith Smasal, 3.60
3. Kent Smasal, 3.30

Northern Pike
1. Chris White, 9.32
2. Grayson Ball, 9.26
3. Keith Smasal, 4.80

No walleye were caught. As for the raffle contest, winners were as follows:
Grand prize - Mark Burzynski - Browning AB3 30.06
Roger Kohler - Savage Access 2 Pro Forest Camo 30.06
Dale Liazuk - Taurus GX2 9 mm
Rhonda Human - $300
Chris Kyles - $200
Kelly Ciolkosz - $100
Winners for the $50 prize include John Pozdell (three times), Cody Ebben, Abe Koegel, Bryan Mason, Eugen Gauger, Trace Auther, Dennis Nitz, Robert Kaszubowski, Jay Brown, Shaaolyn Meyer, John Witkis, Drake Helfert, Craig Morello, Sara Dorn, Beaver Jacque, Jameson Brooks, Jeff Gadke, and Martha Scheidler.
Winning the 50/50 raffle for the day was Jeff Lucas, with $653.
Donating door prizes, meanwhile, were several area businesses, attendees picking up their prizes at the contest. Businesses donating door prizes included Oemig’s Sport Shop, Cindy’s, Debbie’s on Broadway, Gibs Affordable Septic, A&W Stanley, Stanley Tire, Boondocks, Midway Bar, Village Haus, Bliss, DJ Farm and Home, Conley’s Hill House Bar and Grill, Martino’s, Hansen’s IGA, Courtesy Ford, Stanley Theater, Hazuga’s True Value, Hooked Outboards, Stanley Truck Sales, Marieke Gouda, Lube Suppliers, Early Birds Pub and Grub, Kwik Trip, Kelly Grill, Fast Lane Detailing, LaGrander’s Hillside Dairy, Tolley’s Bowl and Bar, O-W Sports and Liquor, Hixwood Metal, Thorp Supervalu, and Otter Lake Bait.

The annual contest might be over for now but ice fishing continues, with Otter Lake welcoming anglers of all kinds. Aerators with open water are marked out off the day use park on the north end as well as opposite the south boat landing. Avoid the hazards, and fish safely!