As ice thickens on area lakes and ponds, the Amherst Ice Fishing Club watches its ranks grow to nearly 60 active student members from 5th through 12th grade. Time outdoors, fun on the ice, and some competitive team fishing has proven to be a winning formula for head ice fishing coach Jason Pickering who launched the club four years ago. 

“I’m excited about the number of kids who have expressed interest in fishing this year. Safety is my number one objective…having fun is number two…winning is number three,” said Pickering. “I’m grateful to our many sponsors who provide our kids with an opportunity to experience the outdoors and have some fun. Everyone wins because of our great sponsors.”

The Amherst ice fishing club has placed a team of its best fishermen in the top 15 of all schools throughout the state at each of the last two state tournament championships. The team was even announced on center stage at last year’s state tournament held in La Crosse in recognition of its high finish (out of nearly 100 other schools statewide). 

The club also boasts a number of notable finishes at other tournament invitationals – invitationals that typically consist of a dozen or more teams in most cases — including first place at Waupaca (Chain O’ Lakes, 2023), runner-up at Waupaca (2024) and third place at Minocqua (Lakeland Invitational, 2023). 

New student officers for 2025 include Korbin WIlliams, president; Cashton Cullen, vice-president; Aubrey Raddatz, secretary; and Aubrey Chandler and Presley Voss, social media. 

“This year, as the president of the fishing club, my vision is to have one of the best years with the club, getting more people than ever out on the ice, all catching fish, having a great time, and enjoying Mr. Pickering’s great grilling skills,” said Williams.

“I plan on getting the most participation out of EVERYONE in the club, not just the same group of people going out on the ice or going to meetings or at the concessions. I want to assemble a team of the greatest fisherman out of Amherst High School for state and take first at state. That’s my vision for the club,” Williams said. 

Individual participation in various fundraisers and club events is a great way to show devotion to the club, according to Pickering, noting that club members help run the concession stand during sporting events, with the more the merrier when it comes to lending a hand.

“I want so many kids telling me they want to help that I have to turn people away. I understand that some kids are playing in the sporting events or working and may not be available,” Pickering said. “We make great money from the concessions and from selling 50/50 tickets during the games. Buying food and bait for our club events has gotten quite expensive and the money from these events pays for it.”

The club is slated to run concessions on November 25 and December 11 with dates likely to be added as the season progresses. 

Key club events this winter include:

• December 27 or January 3 (school choice as to date): the Mixed Bag 300 statewide tournament. An entire team competition with location and date to be decided by the leadership in the club.
• January 17: Waupaca Chain of Lakes tournament. Amherst has placed among the top two teams each of the past two years. 

• January 24/25: statewide tag team tournament. Amherst’s fishing totals will be combined with another team from the southern part of the state.

• February 20-21: WIFA State Championship. Only 12 students can compete in this tournament and those 12 will be decided upon by Pickering and the leadership of the club. (Participation in club events and fundraiser participation are major determining factors in picking these students.)

• February 28 or March 7: Season finale, last club event. Prizes and donated items are awarded to the participating students. Everyone is encouraged to come and fish together one last time for the year.  

Club members are currently selling raffle tickets courtesy of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association or WIFA. The money raised in this raffle supports all of the state run events including the state championship. According to Pickering, “60% of all the money raised in this raffle goes straight into our club account. This is the club’s number one money maker and has raised thousands of dollars for the club.”

 WIFA state raffle tickets are $20 each with 3 tickets for $50. Each high school member is required to sell at least three tickets as a way of paying their way into the club. (Middle school kids are not required to sell but they are welcome to if they wish to do so. Tickets must be returned by Dec. 12.)

Parents are welcome at all events but only fish caught by the kids can be registered as an official entry at tournament events. Thanks to the many sponsors, and some parental contributions in the form of baked goods, student participants enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers as well as water, soda and other treats at every outing. The season concludes with an internal team event featuring a number of locally-provided raffle prizes and awards. 

Although ice fishing is an expensive sport, a variety of sponsors continue to provide the club with needed funds. Walleyes for Kids, Waupaca, recently donated $1200. Other sponsors include OK Hardware, The Tomorrow River Conservation Club, Ardisam, Taps and Tackle, HT Enterprise, Calcutta Outdoors, Magic Products, Fleet Farm, Sure Strike, MADA, Wind Rider, Rapal, and Gollon Brothers. 

The club also welcomes donations of used fishing equipment by local residents.

“I don’t know if there’s a better example of a public/private partnership in the entire school system,” said assistant ice fishing coach William Van Lannen. “What Mr. Pickering has launched in a few short years is an outstanding example of corporate and small businesses working in concert with a youth club to invest in future fishermen. As Pickering says, ‘everybody wins’ under such a productive arrangement.”