February in Lincoln County means it’s time for ice fishing contests.

Upper Thompson Lake hosted the Treasure State Angler’s Circuit Perch Assault last weekend.

This weekend, the hot spot will be Bull Lake for its Ninth Annual Ice Fishing Derby, hosted by the Halfway House Bar and Grill.

It would have been the 10th event, but a lack of safe ice in 2024 caused its cancellation. But the jackpot from last year does carry over to this year.

A social media post from Sunday indicated there was at least six to eight inches or more of ice on Bull Lake.

Northern pike are the target and the entry fee is $25 cash per angler. 

Registration began Monday and ends at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Fish must be caught in Bull Lake. Any fish suspected of being caught elsewhere will be rejected and the participant disqualified.

Fishing hours are from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Complete rules may be found at the Halfway House’s Facebook page or at registration.

On the other side of the county, the Ryan Wagner Memorial Ice

Fishing Derby will be held on Murphy Lake from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m Saturday, Feb. 8.

Yellow perch, small and largemouth bass, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout, northern pike minnow, sun fish and northern pike are the targets.

Money from raffle tickets and derby entry tickets support multiple scholarships for local students. Registration is $5 for those 18 years and older while kids are $2.50 each.

For more information, call 406-882-6018 or email msartori@interbel.com.

Next weekend, Feb. 15-16, the Fisher River Valley Fire/Rescue Auxiliary Winter Ice Fishing Derby will be held on the Upper, Middle and Lower Thompson lakes as well as Crystal and Loon lakes.

The entry fee is $20. $12 of each entry fee goes into the prize money pot while $7 goes to Fisher River Valley Fire/Rescue Auxiliary and $1 to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks,

There will be cash prizes for pike, salmon, rainbow trout and perch. Advance sale tickets are available at Libby Sports Center and Happy’s Inn. Tickets are also available at the event.

For more information, call 293-1975, 293-2870 or 775-741-0588.

The weekend of Feb. 22-23, the Lodge at McGregor Lake Fishing Derby will be held from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Rainbow and lake trout are the targets.  

The registration fee is $15 per angler. For more information, call 480-338-7396 or email pbacl@hotmail.com.