The Northern Illinois Conservation Club (NICC)’s annual Ice Fishing Derby took place Saturday in Antioch as a one-day-only event for the first time in the derby’s 64-year history.
Without significant lake surface ice to safely fish on amid warmer weather, those fishing the derby used boats or stayed on piers on the Chain O’Lakes as temperatures neared 40 degrees by midday.
“The last year we didn’t have any ice was 2012 to ice-fish,” NICC president Leonard Dane said. “We did have ice last year, but it broke up shortly after our event.
“It’s still a fishing derby, not an ice fishing derby this year,” he said.
More than 100 people were in attendance, with about a dozen actually fishing, Dane said.
The derby became a one-day-only event this year in part because of the Super Bowl. The game used to take place in early February, but was moved one weekend later, competing with derby attendance.
The headquarters to measure fish was at the Channel Lake Beach Bar at Turtle Beach Marina on Channel Lake.
By 11 a.m. on Saturday, not one fish had been brought in to be measured at the Beach Bar, where a table was set up inside for fish evaluation. Still, raffle tickets were sold and festivities were upbeat. There were prizes, a silent auction, community sponsorship tables and a meat raffle. Proceeds benefit the NICC, which was established in 1960.
The NICC has property in Antioch. Family memberships are $50 per year. About 100 families are members and are encouraged to volunteer.
“We have hiking trails,” Dane said of the 63-acre property. “We have a private pond that’s stocked with fish. We have a cabin where members can come. They can use the grounds 24/7/365. There’s a couple of fire pits.”
Jon Boettcher of Antioch, new as a NICC member, said, “To live in this area, and to have this much water around, all this beachfront access, boating, it’s unlike any other place on Earth.”
Derby enthusiasts included Carli Fini of Ingleside, son Chase, 19 months, grandparents Mark and Denise Fini of Antioch, and Chase’s aunt, Ashley Grimon of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Mark Fini hoped Chase would be, “exposed to the outdoors, fishing, if possible,” on derby day.
Carli Fini said, “Lake County, it’s known for the Chain O’Lakes,” adding the Ice Fishing Derby is, “a good socialization thing. It’s always a lot of fun.”
Jaxson King, 6, of Antioch, fished with his father John and their neighbor Zac Hebeda.
“I haven’t had a chance to do much ice fishing so … it’s a good excuse, and good time to get out, right?” Hebeda said.
Hebeda signed an online petition posted on Feb. 7 by Mark Willer of Fox Lake, co-owner of Turtle Beach Marina, in support of adding more transient boat slip parking there.
“He’s definitely bringing a lot more people and attention around, to, at least Channel Lake for sure,” Hebeda added.
Approximately 700 signatures have been collected.
“We set a goal to make this marina the best on the chain,” the petition states.