3rd Annual MOE Family Fish Derby – Photos/Results

Written by admin on 20 February 2013

Participants of the 3rd Annual MOE Ice Fishing Derby. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

Tara Tremblett shows off the 16.5" pike she caught. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Sunday, February 17th the Manitouwadge Outdoors Enthusiasts held their 3rd annual Family Fish Derby. The derby is always held on the same weekend as the Ontario Free Winter Fishing weekend to allow anglers to participate without a fishing licence which opens the derby to plenty of people who have never experienced ice fishing before. MOE Volunteer Kathy Hudson was on hand to register participants, each of whom would receive a participatory certificate, cash prize, Family Fishing tatoos and other Ontario Go Fishing items, at the end of the day.

The BBQ which is held throughout the derby is a collaborative fundraiser; the MOE provides all the food, refreshments, napkins, cups, condiments while a local non-profit, this year the Manitouwadge Panthers, our local amateur ladies’ hockey team, cooks and serves everything to collect the profits. Charrly Killingbeck was the Panthers-in-charge volunteering at the BBQ “It was a great day, we nearly sold all our hot dogs and smokies and loved getting to see all the derby participants throughout the day” said Killingbeck. Many of those who took advantage of the hot chocolate and food available to purchase commented on just how friendly Killingbeck and the other Panthers volunteers were “You could tell they wanted to be there, I didn’t know we had a ladies’ hockey team so it was nice to learn about them as well” said one woman as she enjoyed her hot chocolate. As for derby participants, there was nothing but positive feedback as children and adults alike seemed to have enjoyed the day thoroughly. First-time anglers, as well as seasoned fishermen and women, took to the ice, both on foot and via snowmobiles, even early in the day (the derby began at 10:30am) when temps of -20 celcius offered a good excuse to stay home. As the day went on however, clear skies allowed the sun to shine and as temps crept up to a mild -12 by afternoon, Manitouwadge Lake, dotted with ice fishing huts and randoms groups of anglers, was a lovely sight to see.

Organizer Kathy Hudson (MOE Member/Volunteer) emphasized that the derby was a collaboration, “I certainly couldn’t do it alone, there were many MOE members who gave their time to make this year’s derby a success” said Hudson thanking Chris Denny, Ross Morton, Ron Neidrauer, Lorne Boyd, Frank Reiser, Reg Gionet, Bob Kirkpatrick and Charrly Killingbeck (Panthers) for their efforts and time. Hudson also expressed her appreciation of all the participants and the many sponsors, including Manroc and Barrick (OntarioNewsNorth.com was also a proud sponsor), who made the day such a huge success.

Chris Denny was one of the Volunteer auger-operators who worked diligently throughout the day to ensure everyone had plenty of access to the fish. Denny, and other volunteers, also provided participants with snowmobile rides across the lake - all this at the volunteers' expense - a big thank you to each of them for their generosity, dedication, patience and enthusiasm! Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com

RESULTS

WALLEYE (Pickerel)___________________________________

Makenna Lessard 14″,
Avery Schut 13 1/4″,
Sklyer Haliski 13 1/8″.

PIKE________________________________________________

Rowan Schut 30 1/2″,
Phil Cerrone 24″,
Michaela Gionet 23 1/8″

PERCH_______________________________________________

Jesse Gagnon 10 1/2″
Rowan Schut 9 1/2″

FAST FACTS

A total of 16 fish were caught at the 2013 MOE Family Ice Fishing Derby,

10 pike
4 walleye
2 perch

The annual MOE fish derby continues to welcome new participants each year, total # of anglers in 2011 was 60, in 2013 that number had grown to 84! (see graph above for specific details)
Free fishing weekends are held twice annually in Ontario, one in winter and the other in summer. During these weekends Canadian residents can fish in Ontario without a fishing licence

RELATED ARTICLES

Letter to the Editor RE: MOE Fish Derby 2013 (Feb.18, 2013)
If one Town Councillor had his way, the township would not have waived snow removal fees for clearing the beach/parking lot for the MOE to hold the derby CLICK HERE to read that article (Includes video of Interview w/Kathy Hudson & council’s debate on the issue) ( )
Manitouwadge Families Get Hooked (Feb.27, 2013)

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: Tremblett shows off the pike she caught. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

: Chris Denny was one of the Volunteer auger-operators who worked diligently throughout the day to ensure everyone had plenty of access to the fish. Denny, and other volunteers, also provided participants with snowmobile rides across the lake – all this at the volunteers’ expense – a big thank you to each of them for their generosity, dedication, patience and enthusiasm! Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com