Staff photo by Fritz Busch Michael Sondag of Hanska sits on an ice fishing gear sled at the 2024 Hanska Fire Department Ice Fishing Contest. He and several hundred contestants competed in one of the few ice fishing contests held last year due to unusally mild weather.

HANSKA — Plenty of ice is anticipated for the 10th Annual Hanska Fire Department Fishing Contest on Lake Hanska Saturday.

“I’ve heard the lake has 15 to 18 inches of ice now. There should be plenty of it. If the weather is pretty good, we usually have 300 to 400 people which is good for us,” said Hanska Fire Chief Mikale Gustafson.

He said the fishing contest is the fire department’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Last year, the event was one of the few fishing contests held due to unusually warm weather.

Gustafson said Lake Hanska can produce good fishing results at times.

“Sometimes, cold fronts turn off fish, but hopefully it’ll change. We’ve had a lot of fish caught here the last couple years, mostly crappie and perch, but there are walleyes and catfish too,” he said.

Gustafson said a side by side ATV went through the ice on the lake a couple weeks ago, on a ridge and tile line a couple miles east of where the ice fishing tournament takes place. He said aerators on the lake are well marked.

Last year, Saturday afternoon temperatures rose into the mid-30s for the contest.

Brandon Anderson caught the largest fish at last year’s contest, a 6.21 pound catfish. The pan fish division was a draw between Sawyer Olson and Ben Davis with 1.11 pound crappies. Olson also caught a 1.10 pound crappie.

The walleye division was also close. Riley Strate won the walleye division with a 0.98 pounder.

A few years ago, Steve Braulick caught a 26 inch, 3.17 pound walleye.

Contest registration begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Geiger Landing, off CR 10 and CR 20, near 240th Avenue.

In addition to beverages, food options include brats, hot dogs, sauerkraut and chips.