We are into February now and should be in the depth of winter. It’s going to be rainy, and temperatures are in the 40s here in Leavenworth. Ice has gotten thin on most lakes, but it was thick enough on Bonaparte Lake, for the second annual Ice Fishing Derby. In spite of rainy weather and slush and water on the ice, there was a very good turnout. According to Eric Cruz, owner of the Bonaparte Lake Resort and organizer of the derby, there were 560 entries this year. The Big Fish honors went to Idaho angler Brian Rogers with a 4.75-pound rainbow. He won a gift certificate to Sheels and $1,899. The Multi Species category was won by Chris Marcolin from Omak. He took home a Vexlar flasher basket and $1,319. The winner in the Youth division was James Magnuson and he received a Sheels gift certificate and $397. Eric said that about 200 people came up to him to thank him for putting on the derby, so you can count on the Bonaparte Lake Ice Fishing Derby to be back next year. Eric said he is working on a derby on Curlew Lake. I’ll keep you posted.