SALISBURY — After seeing only 52 competitors in last year’s Lake Dunmore Ice Fishing Derby due to sub-zero temperatures, and 130 the year before, the 2017 edition of the derby saw a big leap in participation with 192 adult fishers taking part and 20 youth competitors.
“It was huge, we did really well this year,” said Katie Cole of Kampersville Store, which hosted the derby on Feb. 4-5.
Although there was some open water on Lake Dunmore in January, a few days of solid sub-freezing weather leading up to the derby resulted in enough ice to safely hold the event. On the Saturday and Sunday of the competition, the temperature didn’t rise above 30, there was little or no sun for most of the time and a brisk south wind made it pretty cold for anyone out on the ice without a shanty to keep warm in.
As usual, there was an entry fee that was split up as prize money among the winners for largest pike, trout, salmon, bass and other — as well as kids’ awards.
The only hitch was there were no salmon submitted for awards this year.
Cole said she heard that one fisherman caught a salmon but let it go because he assumed it was too small to bring home any prize money.
“He could have won $750,” Cole said.
With no salmon entries prizes in all adult categories were raised by $50, so the award was: 1st place $450, 2nd place $350, 3rd place $200 and 4th place $70.
Oliver Huntley brought in the biggest catch of the day — a 13.29-pound catfish. Tyler Tatro won a prize for the largest perch caught by a youngster; it was just under a pound. Jared McGee appeared to be pretty happy with the 5.15-pound pike he caught on his birthday.
The category winners and placers were:
Trout: 1. Adam Piper, 9.2 pounds; Clinton LaPlant, 7.09; Tyler Allen, 6.55; Adam Gorton, 5.8.
Pike: 1. Charlie Drury, 8.31 pounds; Jared Malzac, 8.1; Will Leggett, 7.9; Chip Len, 6.87.
Bass: 1. Colby Hutchins, 4.12 pounds; Bob Foley, 3.79; Skyler Germaine, 3.77; Tim Davis, 3.65.
Other: 1. Oliver Huntley, 13.29-pound catfish; 2. Daniel Whitney, much smaller crappy.
Kids: Trout: Sawyer Cadoret, 4.81 pounds; Pike: Drake Felkl, 6.93; Bass: Nora Warren, 3.14; Perch: Tyler Tatro, 0.91.