Given the horrendous weather and huge accumulations of snow on Feb. 9 and 10, it is not surprising that participation was down for Deka Lake & District Volunteer Fire Department's (DLDVFD) annual Ice-Fishing Derby, Feb. 11. However, it was above zero in the sunshine for the actual event and the 198 ticket-holders.
Seems that the fish objected to the weather too, as only 19 lakers and one burbot were weighed in; no rainbow, no kokanee. The Dennis Watt Memorial Trophy for largest kokanee will, therefore, read "skunked" for perhaps the third time in its history. Watt, a Higgins Lake resident who passed away in 2003, was always a stalwart supporter of Deka's fire department.
The largest laker prize went to Gerry Lampreau of Barriere for his 14 lbs, 4 oz fish. Fred Streleoff's, at 13 lbs, 6 oz, came second, followed by Jack Domino's 6 lb, 4 oz specimen. Because there were so few fish, everyone who caught a fish received a prize, before the many door prizes were awarded.
The beautiful Green Mountain grill, donated by Ace Hardware and Dave Gardner, was won by Patty Nash.
DLDVFD is most grateful to its generous prize donors and to the public for their unwavering support.