Helping Heroes Derby

Saturday, January 31, 2015 was the Helping Heroes Ice Fishing Derby!  

The morning before Derby Day, all the prizes were laid out in the lodge.

We were very fortunate to receive such generous donations.

 The sleds were prize packages for the youth divisions.

The framed art and gift certificate were for a fund raiser raffle.

 Derby Day at last!  I got up bright and early to meet with my helpers.

When we arrived and hour before registration time, eager competitors were waiting for us in the parking lot.

 DNR Officer, Keith, was around to help answer any legal concerns. 

Between having the help of friends/family, generosity of our sponsors, and a beautiful forecast, I could tell it was going to be a great day! 

I'm not sure what the actual high was, but somewhere near 40 degrees, I believe.

Folk's had there choice of fishing any or all of three lakes for the derby.

I do believe Stone Lake was the most popular choice, as it is right near the lodge.

In addition to three main categories, folk's had the option of participating in additional categories via a jug buy-in.  The jug buy-in went over very well.

Before I knew it, fish were being brought in to be measured!

Check out the TEETHMARKS on this one:

Gotta wonder what happened... pike?!?

 Their were plenty of smiling faces holding up fish! :)

And Fishing!

Jean and Jamie caught several small perch.  I couldn't help myself-- I caught some too.

My shanty sat in about the same spot as last year, when I fished in the Perchin for Polio Derby.

 This year, their wasn't as much snow on the ice though.

Back inside the lodge, Mom, Charlotte and Wayne took care of serving chili, hot dogs and cookies.

Adorable Eli was fascinated by watching a live minnow.

Alison, from the LaPorte Parks Department, co-hosted the event with me.

Outside and during an interview with the local newspapers, the DNR needed a jump.  Brownie Points!!!  :)

Fish rolled swam in consistently throughout the derby.

Christo's Round the Clock, Texas Corral, and Alpha Bakery  provided the yummy chili and hot dogs for the derby.

The most popular fish of the day was perch.

Second most popular fish was bass.

Surprisingly, there were not very many bluegills or crappie brought in.

Nic Ream was one of the big winners with his champion bass of nearly 19 inches.

The walleye, caught by Marshall Brown, was the most remarkable fish caught that day!

It measured in at almost 27 inches long!

Prize and Raffle time!

Mark Brown Jr., caught a pike over 27 inches long and won the Gamefish Youth Division.

Brice Summerland won the Panfish Youth Division with a 9 inch perch.

Marshall earned the third prize package with the walleye.

Nic won over $300 cash for the top Gamefish Bass!

Cody Downs was the Panfish Adult Division Winner with a crappie that measured in at over 10 inches.

Here's a tally of all the jug winners:

Bass--             18 7/16  Nic Ream
Crappie--        10 9/16  Cody Downs
Perch--             9 11/16 Jamie Ladewill
Gill--                8 3/16 Tom Maxwell
Pike--              27 5/8 Mark Brown Jr.

In addition to the three grand prize winners and the jug winners, just about everyone won a raffle prize!  :)

I was so happy everything went smoothly.  A big thanks to Chuck, Garrett, Charlotte, Wayne, & Mom for helping out and to all of the Sponsors.  I'm certain the Flyin Heroes will be one happy charity!!!  :)