Not even a rainy weekend can threaten this year’s ice fishing contest. Cold weather earlier in the winter solidified the ice on Firemen’s Lake, and it isn’t budging. That’s good news for the firemen readying to put on the 53rd annual Chaska Fire Department Fishing Contest (1-3 p.m. Saturday at Firemen's Lake)

“It shouldn’t be an issue,” said organizer Jeff Lenzen, of the ice. When they checked in early January, there was 13 inches of “good ice” on the lake. Later, slush turned to ice creating an additional four inches of “OK stuff,” said Lenzen. And last weekend’s precipitation is expected to freeze before the contest, too.

A decent forecast for Saturday should spell nice conditions for the highly anticipated event.

“We’re looking good,” said Lenzen. “Forecast is for 17 to 20 degrees. That’s the perfect medium.”

With both the ice and the weather cooperating, contest organizers can focus on getting their preparations done for Saturday. There are still prizes to be collected, raffle tickets to be sold and up to 2,500 holes to be drilled before the horn sounds at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike,” said Lenzen.

“We’re pretty much up and running,” he added. “Just fine tuning things at this point.”

The fishing contest is the fire department’s biggest fundraiser of the year. On average, it brings in around $20,000, Lenzen said. That money goes into the department’s smoke detector program as well as into firefighter training.

“We retired 10 guys last year so we’re picking up some new guys that need training,” said Lenzen.

In addition to raising money for the fire department, the contest serves as a good way to get people outside in the dead of winter.

“Once the fishing contest happens, people know spring’s coming,” said Lenzen.

“We call it the silly season,” he added. “It’s a good reason to get together and have fun.”

The contest draws anglers, young and old, from around the metro. Last year, the contest also played host to its first bachelorette party on record.

“It just goes to show that the fishing contest is for everyone,” said Lenzen.

Bragging rights, as well as a selection of prizes, will go to the 50 biggest fish pulled from the lake. Door prizes will also be given away to those who purchase raffle tickets, sold for $2 a pop. This year’s prizes include everything from a gas grill and a muzzle loader to rod and reel combos and a power auger.

As in past years, concessions and a bonfire will be on site Saturday. Anglers should have a valid fishing license to fish the lake.

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer