The 18th Annual Walled Lake Ice Fishing Derby (WLIFD) starts at 7am and ends at 5pm on 2/7/2026.  WLIFD Officials will light off a firework at 7:00am indicating lines can now go in the water and the WLIFD has officially begun.  We will also light off a firework at 4:30pm indicating that the derby is 30 minutes from being over and that all fish that want to be considered for prize winnings must be at the Tiki Bar no later than 5PM.

·       Online Registration is open now via the Website www.mifishingderbys.com

·       In-Person registration will be held at the Derby Hosting Restaurant on Walled Lake.  The Tiki Bar located at 142 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-669-3322 228. Thursday 2/5 & Friday 2/6 from 4PM to 9PM and Saturday the day of the event from 6AM to 9AM.  Raffle items will be displayed and tickets will be available at in person registration and all day at the derby.  Limited annual Derby hoodies will be available at the in-person times as well.  We order a 125 and they go fast!

·       This is not a team event, each person fishing the derby must be registered to participate.

·       Fishing begins any time after 7am, you may have your hole opened but NO poles, tip ups, or decoys can be in the hole. All anglers must be registered prior to fishing the WLIFD and have a valid ID for verification.

·       If you observe someone being dishonest, unethical, and not following the rules, please call/text Tony at 248-949-0221 immediately.

·       The species of fish to be caught and considered for prizes are ~ Northern Pike (1st,2nd,3rd) Perch, Crappie, Panfish, and Rock Bass.

·       Last weigh-in is prior to 4:59pm, no more fish will be measured after 5:00pm unless you are in the WLIFD official measuring line by 5PM.  Prize awards start around 6:00pm to 6:30pm inside the Tiki Bar restaurant.  

·       A valid ID verification is required for any fish being measured and considered as entry into the WLIFD.

·       Parking for the event.  There will be various parking areas located just North of The Tiki Bar restaurant.  Riley Park, several churches, and a handful of business owned lots in addition to WL Beach and The Tiki Bar.  Vehicles with trailer must park in designated parking areas and NOT at the WL Beach or in The Tiki Bar paking Lot, vehicle/trailers parking at either will be towed at owner’s expense.  We are close to finalizing the parking areas and will update the website and FB Page with a map of parking areas.  ATV’s / Snowmachines are allowed to slowly drive from the designated parking areas to the WL Beach to access the lake.  Helmets are ORV stickers are required.  

·       $10,000.00 Tagged fish.  WLIFD will catch, tag, and release a Northern Pike prior to the scheduled derby date.  Anglers who have registered for the 2/7/2026 WLIFD and are 18 years of age or older have the chance to catch the tagged fish between the derby start and stop time.  The tagged fish is worth nothing prior to the event or after the event.  If you catch a tagged fish, you can NOT pull the tag out nor release it prior to calling us at 248-949-0221and have a WLIFD staff member come out and verify the fish.

·       Grand Door Prize – 2026 Yamaha Grizzly 450 4x4.  All 2/7/2026 registered WLIFD anglers that are 18 years of age or older are entered into a drawing for to win the ATV.  The drawing will take place live at The Tiki Bar shortly after announcing the fish category winners.  The winner is responsible for paying the 6% Michigan sales tax and the vehicle registration of the ATV.

·       Fish length and big limit must be in accordance with laws of the MI DNR requirements.  Northern Pike must be longer than 24” and a max limit of 2 per person.  Folks must adhere to the max number of lines in the water per person which is 3.

·       All means of legal fishing outlined by the MI DNR are allowed.  This includes, Tip-ups, jigging poles, and Spearing.

·       Fish need to be measured immediately if wanting to participate to win. Any partially frozen or altered fish will be disqualified.  Anglers are directed to call the derby hotline at 248-949-0221 to have a WLIFD Official come out to your fishing site and have your fish officially scored.  

·       Contestants are responsible for the verification of all fish measurements at that time. The decision of the judges is final.  There will be NO Re-weighing after fish has been previously measured and recorded. 

·       The winning factor for all species is LENGTH.  The fish will also be weighed at the time of length measuring and will be used in the event that there is a tie.  Heavier fish wins.

·       All Michigan angling, snowmobiling, and ATV rules must be followed.  (Helmets, valid ORV, line count per angler, etc.)  Any citations at the event will result in a disqualification from the derby. Do not drive any automobiles out onto the lake.

·       Anglers are allowed to bring ATV’s, Snowmobiles, Side by Sides to the event and will be allowed to drive from the designated parking areas to the Walled Lake beach lake access point.  If you are driving an ATV, Snowmachine, etc. you are required to have a helmet on and drive slowly while in town and while out on the ice on tournament day.

·       Fish entered must be caught the day of the tournament 2/7/2026 AFTER 7am from Walled Lake, no other lakes allowed. All shanties, coolers, fishing lines and sleds etc. may be searched starting at 5am for ineligible previously caught fish/dishonest participants.  Be kind to the WLIFD, especially if a search of your equipment/coolers etc. is taking place.

·       Any unsportsmanlike or unethical behavior is grounds for disqualification from the 2/7 event. Violators of any Michigan state laws, and/or WLIFD rules will be asked to leave the lake & will be disqualified immediately and banned from all future Walled Lake Derby’s and will be made known to the public.

·       If ice conditions are not acceptable prior to the derby, a future/alternate date will be determined and posted on the WLIFD Facebook Page and Website.  No refunds will be given for any reason.

·       REMINDER- Large Mouth Bass and Small Mouth Bass are NOT in season and are not considered for prize at the 2/7/2026 Derby.  If you catch one you are required by law to unhook it and get it back in to the water as quick as possible.

·       Fish category cash payouts, prizes, door prizes etc. will be announced and handed out starting at approximately 6:00/6:30pm inside at The Beach Tiki Bar and Boil located on Walled Lake at 142 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-669-3322 228.  This usually takes around 45 minutes.  You do not have to be present to collect your prize, all results will be posted on our Facebook Page within 2 days after the event where arrangements can be made to pick up your earnings. 

·       A valid photo ID and registration verification is required to win any prize money.

·       Each registered person will be allowed to have 1 prize winning northern pike at any given time during the derby.

·       Adult Prizes:

·       1st Place Largest Pike $1,500.00 / 2nd Place Largest Pike $1,000.00 / 3rd Place Largest Pike $500.00

·       Largest Crappie $500.00 / Largest Perch $500.00 / Largest Panfish $500.00 / Largest Rockbass $500.00

·       NEW- Grand Door Prize: 1 2026 Yamaha Grizzly 450 4x4

·       Youth 15 & under Prizes: (Multiple Categories to accommodate all)

·       1st Place Pike, 2nd Place Pike, 3rd Place Pike, largest crappie, largest perch, largest panfish, largest rockbass, smallest fish, prettiest fish, etc.

·       Questions? Call Tony at 248-949-0221

·       ***All Contestants along with their friends and family who join them and all others hereby consent to the use of any names, photographs, or likeliness of themselves to be used in the promotion of our contest, including but not limited to print, radio, television, Facebook/Meta, and or any other media. 

·       By purchasing the 2/7/2026 Walled Lake Ice Fishing Derby Registration by means of cash, money order, credit card or any online payment, the registrant (plus any family or friends of the registrants agrees that the Walled Lake Ice Fishing Derby, MI Fishing Derbys LLC, The Beach Tiki Bar and Boil, The City of Walled Lake, Tony Hopeck and all WLIFD members will not be held responsible in any way shape or form for any damages or injuries brought about while attending above Ice Fishing Derby on February 7th 2026.  The buyer also agrees to confirm to all Federal, State, Provincial, Territorial and local laws. Buyer also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless of said Derby registration ticket to all claims, liabilities, or of legal action.