Event Details
- Dates: March 7–8, 2026
- Location: Lake Colby (primary), with Northern Pike eligible from local waters within the Tri-Lakes and Saranac Lake School District boundaries
- Registration Area & Weigh Station: Lake Colby Public Beach
Fishing Times
- Fishing begins ½ hour before sunrise on Saturday, March 7 (5:54 a.m.)
- Fishing ends at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026
Weigh-In Hours
- Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 6:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Prizes are awarded for:
- Heaviest fish in Perch, Trout, and Salmon categories (Lake Colby only)
- Longest Northern Pike, which may be caught in approved local waters
Event Overview
The Colby Classic Ice Fishing Derby returns for another exciting weekend of fishing on Lake Colby and surrounding waters. Held annually on the first full weekend of March, the Colby Classic brings together anglers of all ages for friendly competition, great prizes, and a celebration of the sport of fishing.
The 2026 derby will take place over two days, with fishing beginning early Saturday morning and concluding Sunday afternoon. Participants will compete for prizes in multiple fish categories while enjoying a long-standing local tradition.
Event Highlights
- 42nd Annual Colby Classic Fishing Derby
- Two full days of fishing on Lake Colby and nearby waters
- Prize categories for Perch, Trout, Salmon, and Northern Pike
- Adult and Youth divisions (Youth 15 and under)
- Spaghetti dinner Saturday night for all participants, sponsored by Reeling for Recovery
- Tagged fish prizes and raffle drawings throughout the weekend
- Youth (15 & under) registrations are FREE for 2026, sponsored thru the Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club by an anonymous donor in memory of Joey Boyle
Registration Information
- Online registration is now available
- In-person registration available at Woods and Waters up until the day of the tournament and starting at 6:00 a.m. at Lake Colby headquarters on the day of the tournament.
- Youth (15 and under): FREE
- Each youth that registers will need to bring their entry ticket to the Derby headquarters at Lake Colby to receive a free gift.
- All other participants: $30
Questions or sponsorships:
- Any questions about the derby, call the SLFGC Cell phone 518-637-4662
Rules & Regulations
The Colby Classic Ice Fishing Derby is held on the first full weekend of March on Lake Colby. Pre-registration for the derby can be online or at Woods & Waters. Registration continues on the day of the derby at 6:00 am on Saturday at the Lake Colby Public Beach. Fishing officially begins 1/2 hour before sunrise (5:54 am on Saturday, March 7) and ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Prizes are awarded for the heaviest fish in three categories: Perch, Trout & Salmon, which must be taken from Lake Colby. The fourth category is Northern Pike, which are not available in Lake Colby but may be fished from any water body within the Saranac Lake School District boundary and the Tri-Lakes area which includes Tupper Lake and Lake Placid area waters. Prizes are awarded for the longest Northern Pike entries.
Participants must follow all rules and regulations herein and abide by all applicable fish and game laws or shall be disqualified. New York Environmental Conservation officers may be present at the Derby.
- You must register before participating in the Derby and be licensed to fish.
- Saturday, March 7, 2026: All fish brought to the Lake Colby Beach House will be measured for weight between 6:30 am until 5:30 pm on the first day.
- Sunday March 8, 2026: All fish brought to the Lake Colby Beach House will be measured for weight between 6:30 am until 3:15 pm, at the end of the derby.
- Fish caught during the derby in Lake Colby should be brought to the inspection station to be weighed as soon as possible during the open hours. A secondary measuring station may be open on Lake Colby on the ice for convenience of anglers.
- Any fish caught during the two days of the derby outside of open hours must be kept alive until the weigh/measuring station is open. NO frozen fish will be accepted.
- Northern Pike will be accepted for measuring at Lake Colby Beach House during normal measuring hours (See #2 & 3 above.)
- See the following link to Facebook for additional rules/regulations and details on how to submit video/photo images of Pike entries. The dedicated phone number for these entries is 518-637-4662. https://www.facebook.com/colbyclassic
- Tagged fish, with tags matching the 2026 numbers, are not eligible for any other category of prizes. Prior year tagged fish are eligible for cash & weight prizes.
- Derby officials have the right to inspect any and all fish entered and request verification. Derby Judges have the right to disqualify any entry they determine was obtained in an unsportsmanlike manner or appears, in their judgment, to have been falsified or caught in violation of the Derby rules. Derby Judges’ decisions are final.
- Prizes will be awarded to the top three heaviest fish in the Perch, Trout & Salmon categories, & the three longest fish in the Pike category. In the case of a tie, the winner will be the first fish entered.
Only one prize, per person, per category, will be awarded.
We expect fish entered in any youth category to be caught by that youth. An adult may assist, but we expect that adults will not catch and enter fish in the youth category. Remember that when an adult catches a fish for a youth and enters that fish, another youth is being denied his entry. Teaching responsible fishing starts with adults abiding by the rules & regulations.
GOOD LUCK!
Don’t forget our raffle drawings or the door prizes that will be awarded on both Derby days.
Additional Pike submission details, including photo and video requirements, are available on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/colbyclassic
Dedicated phone number for remote submissions of Pike measurement photos/videos is: 518-637-4662
Pike entries can also be brought to the derby weigh station for measuring by length. Pike species are NOT allowed to be released into Lake Colby!
Important Notes
Raffle drawings and door prizes will be awarded on both derby days.
Fish at Your Own Risk:
By entering the derby, all participants agree that no individuals, organizations, or agencies involved with the event shall be held liable for accidents or injuries occurring on the ice or while traveling to or from the derby.
Special thanks to Always Franklin for their generous grant support, which helped make this event possible.
