Last updated on February 14th, 2026 at 07:10 am
Ice Fishing Derby – Sports Game Review
Ice Fishing Derby is a Sports/Sports/Casual game from Paul Halter, first launched in 5th November 2014.
It’s rated 12+ and currently has 376+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Ice Fishing Derby Stand Out
The free version of Ice Fishing Derby: It's a five day fishing derby with a twist. The forecast for the first day is pretty nice, but it's going to get much, much colder as the days go by. Start each day at the bait shop to get the tackle you need. Catch bluegills, crappie, perch, walleyes and northern pike. At the end of each day you'll collect cash at the weigh-in for the fish you've caught. Be sure to earn enough to pay for a portable shelter and heater or you're not likely to survive. Start with some basic gear and catch some panfish, then work your way up to catching the bigger fish. Once you have the necessities you might get yourself a sonar flasher or even an underwater camera system so you can see what's happening under the ice. Your goal is simple: Survive the tournament, and earn as much money as possible. Other fishermen may offer you some interesting trades out on the lake, but be careful what deals you accept!
The game is free but in-app purchases unlock a few items in the bait shop and give you the option of starting each tournament with more money.
Note: Some people have had problems running the previous version of the game due to a bug in iOS 8.0. Either updating your device to iOS 8.1 or updating the game to 1.06 should fix it. If you have any trouble with the game, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.
This Sports game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Ice Fishing Derby is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 13th February 2025
Recent improvements include:
Fix for bug when resuming saved game
Download & Availability
Ice Fishing Derby is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Ice Fishing Derby on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
This game is great and we enjoy every minute of it. But if there was an update even a small one to add a couple new species or challenges it would definitely spice things up. Thanks.
We been playing this game on and off for the last 10+ years and love every minute of it. If this game ever gets deleted from the store, we will be very sad.
Ive been playing this game for years and dont get tired of it. Honestly anytime we get bored Ill play, or Ill play while actually ice fishing. Its almost addictive, its very fun to try and beat you high score. Overall 10/10 game.
We love playing this game but we need more fish. Fish to add bass,musky,catfish,and pirch. Thank you if you do add more fish.
We dont like that it makes you start a new game every five times.
Keep up the good work and updates.
We were tired of fishing planet so we gave this game a try, next day we played it again and then whenever we clicked continue game it kicked us out of the app.
Its good and fun but it keeps glitching like the screen moving wen we got the up date it started.rather than that its pretty fun.
We have played this game for a couple years now and we never get bored of it. Its fun, challenging, and creative. But we would love to see some kind of update soon, and we have a couple recommendations New Fish: Burbot, Trout (all midwestern species), Bass, Cisco/Tulibee, Pumpkinseed, Muskellunge, Bowfin, Rock Bass, Sturgeon New Lures: Artificial ones for different sized fish Free Play: Ideal weather for unlimited fishing, travel to different lakes for different fish Different Transportation for moving spots.
This game has been amazing for however long it came out. Our friends and we love this game and we think there should be a number 2.
Ive been playing thing game for a couple years and we love this game but you guys should really update this game again because its starting to get a little repetitive.
Amazing game,best ice fishing game out there. But we have a feeling suggestions please add more fish, bait ,equipment and please add multiplayer.
What does the premium version give you? Does it give you more dialogue or just unlock everything in the store.
We love ice fishing! Your fish O finder model is amazing on How you programmed it! U get a 5 star u earned it.
We know you based this off of Lake Onalaska, Paul.
We have been playing this game for so long. Fantastic game. We have come across a glitch which is very useful early on. We are not sure if this was on purpose or accidental. The glitch is, when your in the shop, if you click main menu and continue repeatedly, the prices get cheaper and cheaper. We dont even know if you can fix this. If your not the developer and you see this, try it out.
It is good its that what if you accidentally click new game. It should have you confirm yes.
Can we get a update on the game pls.
So we were looking at reviews and now Im wondering if you guys will ever update the game so we can play infinitely so Im hoping you keep that plan of making it happen soooo good luck.
Im not sure what it is. Whether its the simplicity of the game, or the overall user friendly mechanics, but this game is great! We love listening to all the funny conversations you hear the other fisherman having. Overall great game, and we always recommend it to our buddies.
About 5-6 years ago Id play this all the time, so many great memories and its so fun. Kinda wish it was still updated.
This game is pretty fun, if your in the mood for it. Ive been playing this game for several years now, and we both like not having updates and not like the game being updated. We wish you could fish on different lakes, for different fish. Like, go out on a lake for trout, and sturgeon. Other than that, the game is great. Thank you ice fishing derby for keeping us entertained for all of these years.
One of the most fun games Ive ever played!!! PLEASE UPDATE.
It should be 7 days instead of 5 days, Also wished it had free roam to fish anywhere on the lake (like the original game).
We love the game but They should make more lakes and fish species and 4-wheeler and new lures and can chat with the people that come up to you and add like tip ups or a free to walk addition.
Im relating on a review like its a fun game but to get better and improve we have to get lucky and talk to people or buy stuff for a dollar and we might just even go deleting, good update is soon, almost a year hope theres new maps and no money needed.
We would always play this game with our dad when we were younger.. Coming back to it 8 years later brings back great times. Update this game man Id pitch in amazing ideas for free lol such a fun game and has so much potential.
Pro pilkki 2 crossover??!?! Plz update.
We really love this game its our favorite game but the only thing we dont like is that you have to restart every 5 days and you cant get good. Like we wish you could fish for as long as you want and if you wanna do a Derby you can. But thats a lot to ask for but that would be great if you could.
We love the game but theres a few downsides to it like you have to pay real life money for a good ice auger and shanty but we were thinking if u could update it to where you could choose from if u want to do a 5 day tournament or free play where u have unlimited time and we know its a lot to ask for but we were wondering if u could make it to where u could choose the spot u want to go.
We feel like this game could have more stuff and different modes/ places to fish, we would definitely buy the premium version if there was more stuff. Gets boring quick.
Fun game and kills time. Only part that is bad is the heater. Even in the shanty you enable the propane when it says you are cold and then still says your cold. Other then that fun game.
It would be helpful if the game allowed you to actually catch a fish. For some reason we were able to trade 5 of the worst bait for the fish finder. Some .05$ for 45$ ok sure. The hole cant be big enough because you have no money and any bait that does catch a fish requires an actual hole but you cant have an actual hole because you cant catch the smaller fish.
Fun game if you like ice fishing games. Things that we think could make the game better jigs or something else besides live bait (or dead) more expansive rod and reels different bait stores that have different things? Over all fun game -leafboi.
We really like this game and have had it for some time now. We would love to see some graphic updates and different fish/locations. Us and our brother always compete in this to see who get the biggest. Oh and there should be a mode where you can fish forever and not reset ever 5 day, that would be amazing.
We love this game. It helps pass time and is a blast to play competing against others scores. Our wife, us, and our kids all have this game now and we have a great time trying to see who can survive the week and who can catch the most and biggest fish. Its great simple fun for the whole family.
Great game. We lost sound however. No matter how many times we turn the volume up it wont make any sound at all. Ive also tried deleting the game and downloading it again and still no luck. Sound aside, really solid game. Honestly the best ice fishing game out there.
We love almost every part of the game except for the paying for the 12 pound rod and the under water cam are trading is m amazing but for every 20 trades we get 1 good one.
Ive played all of their fishing games on our phone and laptop it, just this needs a new update like adding Trout/Muskie/small mouth bass.
They need more lakes and fish species and 4-wheeler and new lures and can chat with the people that come up to you.
This game is actually really fun. This game has a lot more to offer than most fishing games. There is actually quite a bit to do. We really recommend this game.
We rate this game 5 stars just because we love it its so much fun.
Ice fishing derby is a tasteful rendition of the hard water fishing world, the midwestern chatter in the background is a perfect touch to give the game atmosphere. Also, the fishing mechanics holds true to the old mantra of keep it simple stupid! To often fishing games have over-complicated mechanics that make them difficult or down right impossible to play. Furthermore, we enjoy the competitive aspect of the game. Much like an old arcade classic, our friends and we try to compete for the best score. In short Ice Fishing Derby is a great game, that if nothing else will give you a laugh. However unlikely, we are patiently awaiting waiting the second installment. And just know that we do not think the developers of this game are a few fillets short of a fish fry! Cheers.
We love this game but would like an update! Also a stronger pole would be nice for the really big pike, great game.
It is a great game. It is fun but we would like to see an update it has not had an update in forever.
Im taking the time to write this review to explain how good the game is. Its an extremely simple concept at this point that actually sums up the game/ sport of ice fishing. You start the game, youre in the shop, you buy the basics, you fish. Its really fun. Especially once you start unlocking the big equipment. Havent had a problem with this one running. We would absolutely love to see this game get massive! It just needs a few more things. It could use new locations, with different fish. You should be able to scout out locations and save them based on weather conditions. We love the concept of getting paid for every fish. Please please please update the game.
Best IPHONE game ever. We are addicted. Please make more games you are great at it.
Every thing is good sure could be better graphics but it shows ice fishing.
We recommend this game to everyone and have fun but we would like and update to were you could do tournaments.
Plz update Plz update Plz update Plz update Plz update Plz update.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 151
- Size: 29.07 MB
- iOS: 12.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References
- Developer: Paul Halter
Last updated: 13th February 2025 | Genre: Sports, Sports | Developer: Paul Halter