Official Webpage
The Northern Challenge Ice Fishing Derby
Lake Simond, Tupper Lake NY
Saturday, February 7th, 2026
7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Information | Contacts | Registration | Menus | Results | Updates | Rules
Event Rules at Bottom of Page
Adirondack BBQ Food Menus
Questions?
Call Scott LaLonde, Event Director
(518) 390-9337
Latest Event Updates
As of January 27, 2026
The winners of the hourly Fish Submission AND the hourly Lucky Fish winner will be posted on our webpage each hour. The Tupper Lake Sportsmen’s Club (TLSC.club)
The Door Prize winners will be posted at noon on the Tupper Lake Sportsmen’s Club (TLSC.club). Door prizes can be picked up between 12pm and 4pm at the door prize trailer.
We have a new sponsor this year! Raquette River Brewing! They are giving out tickets to Legal Age Fishermen Redeemable for 1 Free Beer either Friday 2/6/26 or Saturday 2/7/26. Tickets are located at the Clothing Booth in the Registration Building.
Would like to thank everyone for the positive feedback we have been getting on our new choice of Polaris 4-wheelers for our give away and also thank all of you that are using our online ordering for event merchandise and apparel!
As far as an update on the ice conditions - at this time they couldn’t be better! We had 14 inches the last we measured.
We appreciate your support every year and we hope to see you in February!
This grand event is one of the Adirondack’s largest fishing derbies, with anglers competing for nearly $40,000 in money and prizes!
New in 2026, our fantastic prizes include two (2) Polaris Four-Wheelers, $6800 in cash and thousands of dollars in door prizes, along with five (5) 50‐50 Raffle Drawings.
EVENT RULES
LUNKER POOL ‐ $10 EXTRA FOR THE BIGGEST FISH OF THE DAY!
1/2 of Lunker Pool is Paid Out. Must be entered in Lunker Pool PRIOR to 7am on the day of the Derby!
Entry Fee for the Northern Challenge is $40 with Lunker Pool being $50. NO refunds for any reason after acceptance for event.
All fishing is to take place on Lake Simond ONLY.
Contest runs from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 7th, 2026. You may be on the ice, but NO FISHING ON FRIDAY OR PRIOR TO 7 A.M. SATURDAY.
All NYS DEC laws apply. You are allowed 7 lines.
ALL REGISTRANTS must report to the registration building to get a wristband and sign liability waiver before fishing. Wristband must be presented when weighing in fish or collecting prizes.
Any unsportsmanlike conduct as determined by the event officials will be cause for disqualification.
All Northern Pike must be weighed on the official scales at the weigh station by an event official. In the event of a tie in weight, the first fish entered will win. NO DEAD FISH WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY.
All fish must be brought to the weigh station in water and become property of event officials to be released.
Money will not be awarded in the event of no fish entered on any given hour.
No fishing will be allowed inside closed shelters. All fishing must be done in open view of officials.
Fish may not be held for entry in another hour. When fish is landed, it must either be entered for that hour or released immediately back into Lake Simond.
There are 2 areas that are flagged off (closed) for safety reasons (current/thin ice). Anyone attempting to fish these areas will be disqualified. If unsure, ASK.
All cash prizes and ATV’s will be awarded at 4pm. All door prizes will be drawn at noon and winners will have until 4 pm to claim them. Any door prizes not picked up by 4pm revert back to the club to do as they see fit. Door prizes will be posted on The Northern Challenge Facebook page at noon.
YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.
In case of no ice, all door prizes, 2 ATV’s, all 50/50 raffles will be given away at 12 p.m. The Lunker pool will turn into a 50/50 drawing. Hourly fish payout will be based on the number of entries. All drawings will be awarded at the prize truck.
After 5AM Saturday, ONLY vehicles allowed on ice are registered and insured snowmobiles & ATV’s
Payout based on 800 entrants (otherwise 80%) $850 per hour: $500 1st, $200 2nd, $100 3rd. Lucky Fish $50 each hour.
WARNING: DEC has announced that they will be checking to make sure those on ATVs and snowmobiles are wearing helmets. They will also be checking fishing licenses & running radar on the ice.
No ATVs are allowed or permitted on Route 30.We have NYS Police here to help with traffic control and they will ticket those caught riding on Route 30.
Please remember that the property other than the access area to Lake Simond Pond is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Please respect the property owner’s rights.
CARPOOLING is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Park on the opposite side of the road FACING TOWARD Route 30. This will assist us in helping traffic move quicker and safer after the derby.
ALL COOLERS AND ICE SHANTIES ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH FOR FISH BEING BROUGHT IN.