You don’t have to fish to enjoy ice fishing derbies
The holidays are history and the last of the leftovers gone, but now comes the reality that all that remains is our Winter proper season, which can sometimes last until Easter. Unless you’re one of those “snowbirds” that temporarily migrates to the Sunbelt during this span, the time, waiting for Spring to arrive can tend to drag a bit.
Of course this isn’t true with avid snowmobilers, skiers and ice fishermen. Rather than go into self-imposed indoor hibernation, they relish the cold and snow. And a sure sign that we’re entering that mid-winter phase is the arrival of popular ice fishing derbies. The real beauty of these events is you don’t even have to be an ice fishermen to enjoy them, as they’re like large, friendly parties on the ice. Two area ones that have become very popular are the Crappie Derby at Whitney Point and the Lions Club’s Perch Derby at Chenango Lake.
According to Dave Hughes, derby chairman, the 2011 running of the almost-annual New York State Crappie Derby is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. The Derby is a family oriented event that allows everyone to get outdoors after a couple of months of being cooped up inside. Although it is primarily an Ice Fishing event, other attractions will also be provided for spectators. There are usually far more spectators present than registered contestants. Prize categories exist for those not successful in catching fish.
The entry fee is $2 for those over 12 years – free 12 and under. It is sponsored by the Whitney Point Sportsmen’s Association and the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation. Free parking is available at Dorchester Park in Whitney Point as well as Kiebel Road extension on the west side of Whitney Point Lake. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded throughout the day with a significant amount set aside for the kids. We’ll find a reason to give them a prize.
Thousands of people attend each year when we’re lucky enough to develop safe ice. In January of 2010, 1339 registered to fish and compete for prizes and, including spectators, over 4,000 people were in attendance. The purse last year was over $14,000.
There is something for everyone: an excellent fishing lake, prizes for fish, along with Door Prizes, a midway with a number of exhibits, refreshments including great chili and chowder, and also port-a-johns on the ice. Some of the organizations participating will be the Ross Park Zoo (with some live animals and/or birds), Finch Hollow Nature Center with educational displays; the National Weather Service (with a real-time digital weather station) and we’re emphasizing seminars on the ice for new ice anglers – especially the kids. This year we will have Professional Ice Fishermen (ProStaff) hired by major outdoor product manufacturers/distributors. These ProStaff reps will be conducting continuous seminars during the derby day. Got a youngster who doesn’t know anything about ice fishing but wants to learn? All you have to do is dress warm and show up. If you have some equipment, bring it. If not, we will have loaners to show you how to participate in this outdoor activity.
Prizes are donated by local merchants and organizations, with some sponsors from outside New York State. For a thorough description and updates, check out our website at www.crappiederby.com.
“We have again been fortunate to receive the support of area businesses in donating prizes for the Perch Derby,” said Chairman John Weidman, “and we encourage everyone to plan on visiting us on the ice in February.”
The Oxford Lions Club is pleased to announce that the 12th Chenango Lake Perch Derby date is set for Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, with a postponement date of Feb. 19. Last year the Derby attracted over 800 registrants and spectators to Chenango Lake in the town of New Berlin.
The Perch Derby will again feature a number of prizes for successful anglers including the largest perch and pickerel caught during the day. Also, prizes will be offered for the largest perch caught during each 15 minutes of the Derby all day long!
But perhaps best of all is the $1,000 cash prize for the lucky angler who catches the first specially tagged perch at the Derby. In the event that no one catches that specially tagged perch on Derby Day, the prize will be raffled off to those who have registered. If the Derby is canceled due to insufficient ice, the prize will be raffled off to those persons who have pre-registered.
The Oxford Lions Club is also in the process of selling raffle tickets that will be drawn on Derby Day. The raffle will include a number of prizes, all of at least $100 in value.
Proceeds from the Chenango Lake Perch Derby are used to maintain the many community and area projects that the Oxford Lions Club supports, such as eye examinations and eyeglasses for those in need.
Registration forms are available at Mayhood Sporting Goods in Norwich and at www.oxfordlions.org. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
It’s official: Martens is Cuomo’s choice to head DEC
As expected governor-elect Andrew Cuomo announced that Joe Martens was his choice to take over the administration’s version of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
Martens has served as President of the Open Space Institute, directing and overseeing land acquisition, sustainable development, historic preservation and farmland protection. Previously, Mr. Martens served as Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Energy and the Environment from 1992-94 and before that Assistant Secretary from 1990-92. He is the Chair of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic venues in Lake Placid and Wilmington, NY and Gore Mountain Ski Area in Johnsburg, NY. He also chairs the Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation, which continuously monitors Adirondack lakes and streams to determine the extent and magnitude of acidification in the Adirondack region, Mr. Martens studied Resource Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received an M.S. in Resource Management from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.
Given all the budget and personnel cuts that the DEC has suffered, combined with Cuomo’s self-proclaimed “tight-fisted” approach to governing what is a fiscally bankrupted state, it’ll be intriguing to see how well Martens can succeed in balancing environmental needs with those involving conservation.
Of course this isn’t true with avid snowmobilers, skiers and ice fishermen. Rather than go into self-imposed indoor hibernation, they relish the cold and snow. And a sure sign that we’re entering that mid-winter phase is the arrival of popular ice fishing derbies. The real beauty of these events is you don’t even have to be an ice fishermen to enjoy them, as they’re like large, friendly parties on the ice. Two area ones that have become very popular are the Crappie Derby at Whitney Point and the Lions Club’s Perch Derby at Chenango Lake.
According to Dave Hughes, derby chairman, the 2011 running of the almost-annual New York State Crappie Derby is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. The Derby is a family oriented event that allows everyone to get outdoors after a couple of months of being cooped up inside. Although it is primarily an Ice Fishing event, other attractions will also be provided for spectators. There are usually far more spectators present than registered contestants. Prize categories exist for those not successful in catching fish.
The entry fee is $2 for those over 12 years – free 12 and under. It is sponsored by the Whitney Point Sportsmen’s Association and the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation. Free parking is available at Dorchester Park in Whitney Point as well as Kiebel Road extension on the west side of Whitney Point Lake. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded throughout the day with a significant amount set aside for the kids. We’ll find a reason to give them a prize.
Thousands of people attend each year when we’re lucky enough to develop safe ice. In January of 2010, 1339 registered to fish and compete for prizes and, including spectators, over 4,000 people were in attendance. The purse last year was over $14,000.
There is something for everyone: an excellent fishing lake, prizes for fish, along with Door Prizes, a midway with a number of exhibits, refreshments including great chili and chowder, and also port-a-johns on the ice. Some of the organizations participating will be the Ross Park Zoo (with some live animals and/or birds), Finch Hollow Nature Center with educational displays; the National Weather Service (with a real-time digital weather station) and we’re emphasizing seminars on the ice for new ice anglers – especially the kids. This year we will have Professional Ice Fishermen (ProStaff) hired by major outdoor product manufacturers/distributors. These ProStaff reps will be conducting continuous seminars during the derby day. Got a youngster who doesn’t know anything about ice fishing but wants to learn? All you have to do is dress warm and show up. If you have some equipment, bring it. If not, we will have loaners to show you how to participate in this outdoor activity.
Prizes are donated by local merchants and organizations, with some sponsors from outside New York State. For a thorough description and updates, check out our website at www.crappiederby.com.
“We have again been fortunate to receive the support of area businesses in donating prizes for the Perch Derby,” said Chairman John Weidman, “and we encourage everyone to plan on visiting us on the ice in February.”
The Oxford Lions Club is pleased to announce that the 12th Chenango Lake Perch Derby date is set for Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, with a postponement date of Feb. 19. Last year the Derby attracted over 800 registrants and spectators to Chenango Lake in the town of New Berlin.
The Perch Derby will again feature a number of prizes for successful anglers including the largest perch and pickerel caught during the day. Also, prizes will be offered for the largest perch caught during each 15 minutes of the Derby all day long!
But perhaps best of all is the $1,000 cash prize for the lucky angler who catches the first specially tagged perch at the Derby. In the event that no one catches that specially tagged perch on Derby Day, the prize will be raffled off to those who have registered. If the Derby is canceled due to insufficient ice, the prize will be raffled off to those persons who have pre-registered.
The Oxford Lions Club is also in the process of selling raffle tickets that will be drawn on Derby Day. The raffle will include a number of prizes, all of at least $100 in value.
Proceeds from the Chenango Lake Perch Derby are used to maintain the many community and area projects that the Oxford Lions Club supports, such as eye examinations and eyeglasses for those in need.
Registration forms are available at Mayhood Sporting Goods in Norwich and at www.oxfordlions.org. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
It’s official: Martens is Cuomo’s choice to head DEC
As expected governor-elect Andrew Cuomo announced that Joe Martens was his choice to take over the administration’s version of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
Martens has served as President of the Open Space Institute, directing and overseeing land acquisition, sustainable development, historic preservation and farmland protection. Previously, Mr. Martens served as Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Energy and the Environment from 1992-94 and before that Assistant Secretary from 1990-92. He is the Chair of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic venues in Lake Placid and Wilmington, NY and Gore Mountain Ski Area in Johnsburg, NY. He also chairs the Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation, which continuously monitors Adirondack lakes and streams to determine the extent and magnitude of acidification in the Adirondack region, Mr. Martens studied Resource Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received an M.S. in Resource Management from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.
Given all the budget and personnel cuts that the DEC has suffered, combined with Cuomo’s self-proclaimed “tight-fisted” approach to governing what is a fiscally bankrupted state, it’ll be intriguing to see how well Martens can succeed in balancing environmental needs with those involving conservation.
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