By Steve Weisman
Normally, this time of year I always look forward to the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club’s (IGLFC) annual Fall DNR Night. It’s always a great time to get updates from DNR personnel on the state of our area fisheries, any new study information, upland game and enforcement activities. Plus, it’s a great time to visit with other IGLFC members and, of course, gorge ourselves on pizza. For years it was held at Godfather’s in Spencer, but with the membership growing, last year the site was moved to Oak Hill Outdoor at the north end of Milford.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced the IGLFC to move its annual DNR Night to a virtual evening via Facebook. Just go to the IGLFC Facebook page and link up on Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m. This will also be the membership drive evening. Keynote speakers will be Iowa DNR Fisheries Biologists Mike Hawkins and Jonathan Meerbeek.
For current members, letters and membership form have already been mailed out with an addressed envelope to be returned by December 8. Members and non-members can also sign up in person at Oak Hill Outdoor and Stan’s Bait & Tackle in Milford or No Limits Outdoors in Spencer.
Membership will again be $25 (good for the entire family), and with the membership, you can participate in all club events and fishing tournaments. You will also be entered into a sponsorship drawing for at 10-foot Ascend FS10 Fishing Kayak (valued at $499) donated by Oak Hill Outdoor! The winner will be announced that Thursday evening on Facebook.
An additional raffle will also be held that evening for those members who enter. For each additional $10 donated to the club, you will get a raffle ticket for one of three big prizes. You can purchase as many additional raffle tickets as you would like. Prizes include the following:
- Clam Pro Thermal Single Person Hub
- Clam C-560 Thermal Hub
- Clam Rise Float Suit XL Parka and Bibs
Club President Terry Thomsen says, “This has been a difficult year with the COVID-19, and we have
not been able to the many things that we normally do. Since we don’t feel it is safe to have our annual DNR Night in person, we can still continue to move our club forward by doing a virtual DNR Night via our Facebook page. As we come out of this pandemic, our plan is to continue building our membership and supporting our area fisheries, along with our family and youth activities. Our goal is to enjoy our natural resources together as a fishing club.”
Listed below are the annual IGLFC’s yearly activities:
- Club Hardwater and Open Water Fishing Tournaments
- ISU Extension Kid’s Ice Fishing Clinic
- Camp Autumn Ice Fishing Tourney Fundraiser
- Spring Fishing Seminar
- Kids Fishing Clinic
- HWY 71 Roadside Clean-up Project
- Sponsorship for fishing seminar at the Okoboji Blue Water Festival
- Fall DNR Night
- Club Awards Night and Christmas Party
- Jim McDonnell scholarships awarded each year (one or more)
