Frontenac-Addington Trappers' “Dry land fishing derby”

Mar 02, 2016

Unpredictable weather conditions this February resulted in unsafe ice and forced the cancellation of a number of annual winter events.

The Oso Recreation Committee was forced to cancel the Sharbot Lake Snow Drags this week due to a lack of sufficient ice depth to meet the regulations. Similarly, the new K&P trail ride that was supposed to be part of this year’s Frontenac Heritage Festival was a no-go due to sub-standard trail conditions. Add to that the cancellation of the second annual Ride for Dad in Snow Road, which was to take place February 27, and it seems as though our once reliable winter climate is becoming less so.

That being said and despite the lack of safe ice on Big Gull Lake last Saturday, members and supporters of the Frontenac-Addington Trappers Council (FATC) still turned up in droves at the Henderson Hall on February 27 for what might have been the first ever dry land fishing derby anywhere. The organisers called off any real fishing and moved the event from ice to land, which FATC president, Wilf Deline, said was the only thing to do.

He said he was simply not comfortable holding the event on the lake. “We just didn't want to take a chance on the ice but we wanted to hand out all of the prizes regardless and so we decided to still go ahead.”

Deline said he made the final decision to move the derby to dry land a week ago this past Saturday. “I think we sold two-thirds of the total 430 tickets for the event after we made that announcement, which just goes to show you that people were still more than willing to support the cause.”

The fishing derby has taken place for the last 11 years and had never been canceled before. Many of the fishers who had registered and purchased a $10 ticket, turned up in part to have a chance to win some of the over 60 prizes that were donated by local businesses and individuals. In addition, the council handed out 10 top prizes, which included four cash prizes of $100 each as well as a Stihl chain saw, an 8 inch power auger, a fish finder, a generator, a 500 lb pelican sleigh and more. Close to 50 prizes for kids, including hockey sticks, puzzles, fishing rods, lures, toys and more, were handed out to the youngsters in attendance.

Deline said he hopes to see them carrying on the local tradition of trapping and conservation. “Our ultimate goal here is for us old guys to get the young kids away from their screens; to get them outside and to teach them about animals, trapping, fishing and conservation cause if we don't, who else will?”

Deline said that by the end of the day, the derby took in several hundred dollars. Proceeds will help to support many of the council’s local initiatives, including the outdoor program at NAEC, the Pine Meadow Golf Tournament, two $400 high school bursaries, pickerel spawning beds and habitat rehabilitation in area lakes, and more.

The next project for the council will be held conjunction with the MNRF (Minstry of Natural Resources and Forestry) and COFA (Conservationists of Frontenac Addington) and will be to clean up the debris located in and around Deer Rock Lake near Flinton.

Asked if he thinks the council will perhaps have to change the date of the annual derby moving forward, Deline said that the date cannot be changed due to MNR regulations. Asked if he fears a warming trend may become the norm, making for more frequent dry land derbies, Deline said he thinks not. “I think that this is just a phase and every year the conditions are different. Next year there might be five feet of ice on the lakes … you just have to be optimistic.”