Zuckowski Memorial Ice Derby coming to Benedict and Tombeau Feb. 6

Photo submitted by John Ryan

The Mike Zukowski Memorial Ice Derby will take place on lakes Benedict and Tombeau, Saturday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to noon.

Prizes for largest fish of the day — walleye, bass and northern — will be awarded. There will be raffle prizes as well, but raffle tickets are available at the event only.

The $20 per person includes entry fee, lunch and door prize. Children under 16 and Seniors over 65 are free. Lunch will be from noon to 1 p.m.

Headquarters will be on the ice near the Randall fire lane at 402nd Avenue. For safety, no autos or trucks will be allowed on the ice.

All proceeds will be used exclusively for stocking and habitat improvement on Benedict and Tombeau Lakes.

Benedict Lake is a 78-acre lake attached by a navigable channel to Tombeau Lake, a 35-acre lake. Located in the southwesterly part of Kenosha County and the southeasterly part of Walworth County. These two lakes are accessed only by a private boat launch.

Photo submitted by John Ryan

Due to state Department of Natural Resources rules neither lake is qualified at this time to receive any state funding, explained John Ryan, an organizer of the derby.

“Moneys raised from our fishing derbies and donations from the Randall and Bloomfield town boards are the sole funds used for fish stocking and habitat improvement,” Ryan said.

The first fish stocking in 1999 was paid for by donations collected by a small group of concerned individuals. The second stocking was in 2000 and the DNR has allowed stocking every other year since.

“One of our concerned patrons, Mike Zukowski, passed away just days before this second stocking,” Ryan said. “We decided to honor Zuke’s memory and raise funds by holding a Zukefest fishing derby. Consequently we have held two fishing derbies each year. Our open water fishing derby is usually held the last Saturday of September. This year we will focus solely on our ice fishing derby that will be held the first Saturday of February.”

Questions or donations? Call John Ryan 262-745-0559

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