Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club members from left, Jim Fischer and Sam Domeier invite people to participate in the 43rd Annual Fishing Derby on Sleepy Eye Lake, noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Feb. 2.

SLEEPY EYE — After a year hiatus due to last year’s unusually mild winter weather, the 43rd Annual Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club Fishing Derby is set for noon to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2 on Sleepy Eye Lake.

Last year, no fishing was done at the lake but remaining events including bean bag tossing and drawings were done near the lake.

“We’ve got a lot of good, solid ice this year. Close to 20 inches or more. Things are looking real good. Everyone is welcome. Ice cleats are recommended to be worn. If you don’t have any, buy some. It’s slippery out there,” said Sleepy Eye Sportmen’s Club President Sam Domeier.

“There may be some puddles on top of the ice, but the ice should be good with nighttime temperatures under the freezing mark. Right now the temperature for the fishing derby is around the low 30s,” he said.

Domeier said he strongly recommends large ice fishing houses be pulled onto the lake at the southeast lake access.

“I fished the lake a couple weeks ago. We got a few nice sunnies, crappies, even a few walleyes. I think it slowed up a little bit because of the real cold weather we had. I think people are still getting sunfish out there,” he said.

The Sportsmen’s Club will be set up west of the north boat landing with food, portable restrooms, bait including crappie minnows and wax worms while they last.

Domeier said people can only catch two northerns and they must be 24 inches or longer to be considered for the contest. Northerns less than two feet long must be immediately released, according to Department of Natural Resources regulations.

“After the contest is over, we’re asking people to please pick up after themselves. Regulations say garbage can’t be laying on the ice outside a fish house. We’ll have a dumpster near the boat landing,” he said.

Fish derby proceeds go to local parks and lakes projects. For more information, visit the Sleepy Eye Sportsmen’s Club & Trap on Facebook.