Ice Derby '99

Winter has settled in and with it comes the "hardwater" season and the much anticipated annual ice fishing derby!

The Great Rotary Fishing Derby is held each February and is organized by the Merideth Rotary Club. Hats off to the club for their continued efforts throughout the years to create interest and support for the annual event. Fisherman come form all over the country to fish in the two day derby in search of the heaviest Merideth Rotary tagged rainbow trout as well as several other species. The Grand prize is usually a fully outfitted fishing boat, but there are many, many more prizes given out over the weekend. Most New Hampshire water bodies are eligible fishing grounds for the derby, but the most popular body of water is Lake Winnipesaukee.

Our team of ice fisherman has grown larger over the 10 plus years that we have been fishing the derby. Originally, Pete and Chris were the only two. Chris Znoj and Pete's brother Tom joined our team in 1996. In 1997 Kevin Poulos joined in on the action and in 1998 Kevin's cousin Jeff and our old friend Booger came along.

This year our team is growing larger still. Kevin's nephew, Jeff will be fishing. Geoff Turner, who attended last year during the final hours of the contest as an observer, has decided to enter the competition. Chris's oldest brother, Jon will join the angling action along with his friends Dan & Mark. Brownie and Eric are just here "to observe"

Through more than ten years of intense ice fishing competition we have learned a few things. Most importantly; we are not very good. In all the years we have been involved we have never entered a fish in the derby. Now before you go thinking that we really stink, I should point out the reasons we have not entered fish.

• The weigh in station is 27 miles across the lake and even farther to drive around the lake. Entering a fish means deciding to trade in the better part of a day to travel and enter a fish. In other words, it's gotta be a pretty big fish before most of us will call it a day and bring it down to the weigh in.

• One year we went to the weigh-in on Sunday afternoon with a 5+ pound cusk, but we didn't get to the "boards" in time.

• Last year Znoj (aka The Diddler) caught a 14 inch perch that must have weighed almost 2 pounds! Now most fisherman can picture what this fish looked like, short and very fat. It was a freak of nature! However, the possible $50 this fish might have won was not enough to make the Diddler quit fishing for the day.

• In Short, most of the time we have just plain too much fun fishing to head down the lake to turn in a fish. You can bet if we are turning in a fish, its a good one!

To us the Derby represents a time to gather with friends, recount hysterical moments in our fishing past, enjoy homecooked meals out on the ice and compete against eachother in our own friendly tournament.

The 1999 Ice Derby Tournament

(not affiliated with the Rotary derby)

Saturday

Sunday

And The Winner Is!!!!

Congratulations Jeff !!!

(remember: second place is first loser (sorry Kevin))

 

 

Although the '99 derby proved to be a flop as far as catching numbers of fish caught, the weekend as usual was a great deal of fun.

Jeff Poulos begins surveying the area to the south of the ice house, beverage in hand, for the ideal placement of his tip-up(s). (Notice the bigfoot in the backround- it managed to scurry across the ice and into the woods without being detected).

Tom Civ, Chase(the dog) and Tom join Jeff in the ever so crucial and stressful task of plotting out the pattern of holes to be drilled. (notice the bucket of live bait)

Kevin(Blaze Orange) and Tom Civ(Fire Engine Red) are trendsetters when it comes to the latest in Ice Fishing fashion. Whatever happened to the idea that trout are very spooky and that you should always dress in colors that closely resemble your surroundings? Well we can't make much of an argument this year, because no trout were caught whatsoever. That includes by those who were wearing conservative natural colors.

From left to right: Chase, Chris Z. & Kevin (notice- even more subtle colors)

Theres that damn blaze again! You know, Kevin

is an avid hunter. He spent 14 days in the woods

in 1998. (Incidently, he never shot anything).

Heres Tom Civ in the ice house. The "thumbs up" does not indicate hot fishing success as one would think. Instead Tom is simply saying "I've been sitting here jigging for almost 20 minutes and I haven't dropped any of your tools or other valuable pieces of fishing equipment down the hole!!" (Tom's "in-house" agility has improved over the years).

Here's Tom, once again, in his oh so familiar position. (notice the beard growing in in only three days).

<--- (notice the enflamed colin)

Tom and Jeff showing how they feel about the location Kevin & I decided to put the ice house this year. Well, all I have to say about that is; if we hadn't put the ice house here, Jeff never would have caught the LUNKER shown in the picture below!!!!

Now thats what its all about. Jumbo sized Yellow Perch,

the kind that take two anglers to land.

Way to go Kevin & Jeff! Nice teamwork!

Pretty damn pathetic when this fish is one of the weekend highlights. We need some excitement in the form of a big Laker or a RAINBOW!
Pete, where are you??!!!  

 

 

 

If he aint eatin' he's drinkin'!! Tom Civ w/ pipin' hot chocolate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Comment.

 

 

 

 

 

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"Patience is a Virtue"

But it didn't help this poor bastard catch any fish.

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Until next year...

Chris

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