The annual Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby has been held at Saratoga Lake the third weekend of January every year since 1983. In 2017, it was voted “Best Annual Event” in Carbon County, WY!
Prove your skills at Saratoga Lake in Saratoga, Wyoming while competing for over $6,000 in guaranteed cash prizes and up to $35,000 in additional prizes.
Hourly cash awards of $100 will be awarded for the largest fish measured that hour. The big prize money is $2000 cash for 1st Place, $1000 cash for 2nd place and $500 cash for 3rd Place.
This year, we again added three Trophy Trout worth up to $35,000! Only three fish will be tagged with special markers. If caught during the two-day tournament hours, the fish could be worth $20,000 or $10,000 or $5,000! Keep your eyes open for the Bounty Fish, a fish with a pink tag behind the dorsal fin—the first Bounty Fish to be caught and brought to the Official Derby Tent during the derby is worth $500 cash!
Derby Hours:
Saturday: 7am to 5 pm
Sunday: 7 am to 2 pm
Registration Fees
$35—ADULT FISHERMAN
$10—SMALL FRY FISHERMAN (under age 14)
Note: A Small Fry Fisherman may enter as an Adult Fisherman and be eligible for those prizes, but would not be eligible for any of the Small Fry pay outs.
Register and pay online - no need to wait in line or check in! Just fill out the form, pay by credit card, print your receipt and you’re done! No need to check in before you start fishing. Online registration receipt must be accessible at all times during the derby. Online registreation closes at 7:00 pm on Friday.
You may also still register in person by stopping into the Chamber office at 210 West Elm Street during office hours. On Friday night before the Derby, registration will be open until 8 pm. If you don’t get a chance to register before the tournament begins, you may register at the Derby Headquarters Tent at the lake beginning at 6 am on Saturday. No matter which way you choose to register, just be sure to have either your wristband or your printed receipt with you at all times and bring it to the tent when you have a fish to weigh.
For more fun, enter the Best Hut Rules and Best Story Contest. Download the FD Best Hut entry form and secure to the outside of your hut. Not having any luck with the trout? T
ICE FISHING DERBY SPONSORS
Saratoga Lake is about 2 miles Northeast of Saratoga in southeastern Wyoming. The 142-acre lake features a campground with 50 sites with electrical hook-ups and 24 without, so bring your generator. They also have lots of tent sites. Sites are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Concessions will be available at the lake–The American Legion and Legion Auxiliary and other vendors will have food available all weekend.
