THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
What has become an annual tradition in Fort Smith - the Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby - attracted dozens of people to try their luck to snag some big ones and win one of many prizes.
Michael Goehler caught the biggest fish – a 19-pound, four-ounce pike – at the recent Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby, which is held annually on three lakes east of the community.
- photo courtesy of Richard Mercredi |
Richard Mercredi, the main organizer of the derby, was pleased with the turnout this year.
"We had 76 people at the derby," he said, noting the average turnout is 75 to 100 and the largest ever was roughly 120 about eight years ago.
Most of the participants came from Fort Smith, with a few others from Hay River.
In all, they caught 150 fish over the three days of the event, which benefited from mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.
"That's usually what we catch, around 150," Mercredi said.
Fishers gathered from March 22 to 24 on three lakes east of the community - Natawa, Blackman and Jackfish. The farthest lake is located about 60 km from Fort Smith.
"We picked those three lakes because I knew there were fish in them," Mercredi said.
Participants can make the two-hour snowmobile ride to the three lakes or pay to fly into the location with Northwestern Air Lease Ltd.
In fact, it was Northwestern Air Lease pilot Michael Goehler who caught the biggest fish - a 19-pound,
four-ounce pike.
Goehler, who was flying the fishers to the lakes, said it was not too busy on the first day of the derby and he had some extra time waiting for his passengers at Natawa Lake.
Since he also had a ticket to the derby, he decided to give it a try for the first time.
"I dropped the fishing line in and here we go," he said of catching the prize fish.
The top prize was a trophy, $200 and a trip for two to Edmonton on Northwestern Air Lease.
There were also numerous other prizes in adult and under-15 categories - biggest pike, pickerel and trout; total combined weight for each species; total combined weight for all the three species; smallest fish; and more.
Plus, there were many other winners in random draws for about 70 prizes, including cash, a barbecue, an ice auger, fishing rods, dinner for four, and more.
"We raise our money mostly through ticket sales for the prizes," said Mercredi, noting the derby offers the cash prizes and community businesses donate the merchandise prizes.
Mercredi and his wife Barb along with a group of friends, first organized the derby 23 years ago and have been staging it ever since.
"We just thought it would be a good idea in the spring when it's nice out and kind of a community event," he said.
In fact, he noted the Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby is one of the oldest in the NWT.
Winners on ice
The following are the winning fishers in the recent Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby:
Adult category
Mike Goehler - biggest fish; pike
Zack McArthur - big pike
Zack McArthur - total combined weight, pike
Zack McArthur - biggest pickerel
William Reimer - total combined weight, pickerel
Zack MacArthur - biggest trout
Richard Mercredi - total combined weight, trout
Bruce McArthur - total combined weight for all three species
Stanislaus Nirlungayuk - biggest other species of fish, loch
Richard Mercredi - smallest fish, a pike
Kyle Mandeville - smallest pike
Norman Dumkee - oldest fisherman
15-years-and-under category
Devyn Dievert - biggest fish, a pike
Ethan Gillis - big pike
Shawn Tourangeau - total combined weight, pike
Shawn Tourangeau - big pickerel
Shawn Tourangeau - total combined weight, pickerel
Mackynnen Taylor - big trout
Mackynnen Taylor - total combined weight, trout
Ethan Gillis - biggest other species, a perch
Sawer Kaeser - smallest fish, a pike
Ethan Gillis - total combined weight of all three species
Jackson Fuller - youngest fisher, three years old
Source: Fort Smith Ice Fishing Derby
