40th Ice Fisheree celebrated the event’s past

Joe Steines received a ticket to the 40th Ice Fisheree in 1990 from Fred LaPointe. Steines had participated in every Fisheree up to that point. (Courier Press)
With this year’s Fisheree only a few days away, the Courier Press looks back at the 40th event, which took place on Feb. 3 and 4, 1990.
In the Jan. 29, 1990, edition of the Press, Fred LaPointe gave a free ticket to Joe Steines, who had taken part in every Prairie du Chien Ice Fisheree to that point. The Press called Steines “one of the few charter members” of the event.
The Feb. 7 edition listed off the winners of the 1990 event, and Prairie du Chien residents had a dominant year on the scoreboards.
Roger Puckett won first place in the white bass category with a 15-ounce catch; Kevin Goodman won the rock bass category with an eight-ounce fish; Jeff Sheckler took second place in the black bass category with a two-pound entry; Romone Cram made second place in the pike class with an eight-pound, 10-ounce fish; and Charlie Feller must’ve been quite the feller to haul in a nine-ounce sunfish for second place.
Additionally, Mike Balk won a $200 prize, and Lyle Lipke probably didn’t give anyone lip when he took a $50 prize at the event.
Other winners during the event included Terry Gilkes, Wauzeka; Larry Carlson, St. Olaf, Iowa; Charles Hrubes, Livingston; David Murn, Dodgeville; Serenus Platten, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Greg Engrav, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Ronald DuCharme, Westchester, Ill.
2025 Ice Fisheree
The 2025 Ice Fisheree will take place Thursday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb. 2. The event has been a staple of the Prairie du Chien community since 1951.
Along with the ice fishing competition over the weekend, the Crooked Oar in Prairie du Chien will host a variety of festivities, including a dart tournament on Thursday and raffles and auctions.
During the event, St. Feriole Island will host a curling contest for the first time. The event is expected to attract as many as 60 teams to the area.
During the week, Prairie Cinema got in on the fishing action by holding a screening of the Wisconsin-lensed film February on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Sponsors of the 2025 Fisheree include Piggly Wiggly, Pink’s Automotive, Marine Credit Union, Gremore Marina, People’s State Bank, Prairie Motorsports, Fillback Ford of Prairie du Chien, Walmart, Coulee Auto, the Crooked Oar and the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce.