The Oxford Lions Club would like to thank all involved in making this year’s perch derby a successful event. Once again, the chance to catch a tagged perch worth $1,000 drew hordes of fishermen and women to Chenango Lake. I spent my time walking around meeting new people and taking pictures. It was nice to see so many parents fishing with their children. I also held an ice fishing seminar for the Adirondack-Catskill SCI Youth day at Rockdale Rod and Gun Club this month. This program is much like the derby in that it’s a chance to get children into outdoor sports. I will fully explain the event and fill the public in on a new program being held this spring in my next column.
Chenango Lake Perch Derby was held this past Saturday, and there were 391 registered fishing persons in attendance and dozens of others simply enjoying the atmosphere. The possibility of winning money for catching a fish can be that extra piece of incentive to get a new ice angler afield. The prize winners for this year’s event: The largest perch was caught by, Woody Brown and measured thirteen and three eighths inches, and he won $150 donated by Mayhood Sporting Goods. The largest pickerel was caught by John Vanco, and measured twenty and three quarters inches. He won $150 donated by The Polgar Family in memory of Dr. Polgar. The $1,000 prize money raffled off (all registered eligible): $500 - Fred Benning (Port Crane, NY); $250.00 – Remington Barkman; $100 – Henry Polhamus (Endicott, NY); $ 75 – Frank Crawford (Oxford, NY); $ 50 – George Williams (McDonough, NY); $25 – Charles Washburn (Sidney, NY).
The winners of the $100 raffle are as follows: Bob Marshman (Oxford, NY) donated by Mayhood Sporting Goods; Tim Clark (Norwich, NY) donated by the Stadium; R.J. Root (Norwich, NY) donated by Place Farm Trucking; Phil Clement (Norwich, NY) donated by Sidney Federal Credit Union; Kim Stockwell (Bainbridge, NY) donated by the Chenango County AG Society; Chris Cook (Smyrna, NY) donated by Hayes Office Supplies; Scott Moore (Norwich, NY) donated by Oxford Big Blue Convenience Store; Mike Acre (New Berlin, NY) donated by Giltner’s; Tom Palmer (Norwich, NY) donated by Oxford Rod and Gun Club; and Ricky Hathaway (Oxford, NY) NBT, Oxford Branch.
We outdoorsmen should be thankful to live in a community in which local businesses support outdoor related events. Prize donations from groups such as these are the backbone of the derby. An event like this would be impossible if it were not for their help. Good wishes and thank you for supporting outdoor events.