Big catch in South Dakota

What does some Bureau County ice fishermen do when they can’t find any ice to fish on in Bureau County? This is the problem that Carl Lund, Scott Hilmes and Brett Kloepping faced this winter. How did they handle it? They decided to drive north to find some ice.

Last week, they took off for Roy Lake, S.D. to where there was more than a foot of ice. Tired but excited, they fished Saturday and Sunday and were rewarded for their efforts. By the time they finished up on Sunday, their ice chest contained 45 perch and 14 walleyes. When they got back to Princeton, they were already talking about going back in a couple weeks.

• As I told you in my last column, plan ahead for two great banquets. I described the Pheasants Forever banquet that will be held March 8 at the Metro Center. There is limited seating, so get your gun tickets and dinner tickets in advance from committee members: Gene 815-875-1840; Bill 815-872-1157; John 815-875-2483; Kurt 815-875-4089 or Chris 815-878-8572.

There will be only 125 tickets sold ($20 each) for the SKB over/under dinner gun. This banquet is open to the public to join in and enjoy. More info in my next column.

• Today, I want to emphasize the Whitetails Unlimited banquet to be held March 16 at Wise Guys. I talked to banquet chairman Bob Stevens and he informed me there will be an outstanding amount of outdoor prizes for the silent and live auctions, raffle items and at least a dozen guns that will go home to some lucky hunter that night. Since it will be the lenten season, the buffet will consist of fish and chicken.

There is something new this year that I think is just great. The Illinois Valley Chapter is sponsoring a memorial scholarship in honor of Gordon Shipp, a long-time member of Whitetails and a champion in Bureau County conservation. This scholarship will go to an Illinois Valley student studying in the field of conservation and has a value of $500. This is a great tribute to Gordon.