Smith Lake Derby Attracts 300+ Anglers

The 38 th annual Smith Lake Ice Fishing Derby held on Saturday attracted a large crowd of more than 300 anglers ranging from 1-80 years old. The event is put on by the Sunriser Lions Club as a public service to the community and as a way to make a modest amount of money to donate to family fishing pond programs.

"This is a great family event, and we see many of the same folks out here year after year," said Warren Illi of the Sunriser Lions Club. "The weather cooperated and lots of people turned out to help."

More than a foot of ice on the lake provided a safe event for all participants. Dozens of ice fishing shelters dotted the lake surface, reflecting the strong turnout.

The Lions operated a food stand offering hamburgers, chili, and other items.

Illi manned the weigh-in table set up for anglers to check in their catch in hopes of winning a prize. Winners included:

Largest Pike: A. J. Wood, 4.24 pounds; Taylor Newberry, 2.87 pounds; Jack Eisenbarth, 2.53 pounds; and Josh Melton, 2.48 pounds.

Largest Perch: Bob Poore, 1.06 pounds; Joe Puryer, 0.81 pounds; Smallest Perch: Jason Dugan, 0.11 pounds.

The Sportsman and Ski Haus of Kalispell provided prizes. Walleyes Unlimited provided 60 ice-fishing rod-and-reel combinations for kids and for those who needed a rod. Flathead Wildlife, Inc., the local conservation club, offered a grand prize of an ice auger.

No other species of fish other than pike and perch were caught this year. Anglers caught pike on jigs tipped with maggots or smelt, spoons, or tip-ups with smelt suspended underneath on a hook. In total, anglers caught perhaps a few hundred pike and about 10 perch. Anglers with underwater cameras reported seeing numbers of perch, but the perch weren’t biting. Fishing wasn’t as good as last year when anglers landed probably about 1,000 pike.

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See attached photo: A.J. Wood with the largest pike of the day at Smith Lake, Saturday December 27, 2008.

A.J. Wood with the largest pike of the day
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