Lake Ashmere Ice Fishing Derby to Benefit CRA
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That is the secret technique for successful ice fishing, says Smitty's Sporting Goods co-owner Bill "Smitty" Smith.
And the hot spot to try this age-old method of dunking bait will at the annual Smitty's Sporting Goods Ice Fishing Derby, set for Sunday, March 8, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Lake Ashmere in Hinsdale.
"Anybody can go. When you get out on the ice, people love it," said Smith.
This year the benefit will aid the Dalton Community Recreation Association, a community health center on Main Street. In the past, the derby has helped the Wahconah Regional High School football team. Attendance in derbies of yore — Smith could not recall exactly how many there have been — has been into the hundreds.
Most anglers will bring their own augers, or ice drills, but beginners need not fear. "It's pretty much like one big family out on the ice," Smith said. Everyone lends a helping hand, he said.
People — including Smith — will be grilling food; there'll be coolers, and probably some lawn chairs, too. Smith said, "It's like a picnic. It's a fun event for the kids."
Smith said the ice on Ashmere has been good, and should be for some time. "They say it's anywhere from 16 to 18 inches," he said. "We're not going to lose it as long as the nights stay cold."
Most fishermen will be using "tip ups," little rudimentary fishing poles with colorful flags attached to the tip that flip up when a fish strikes. This kind of angling is referred to as "flag chasing," as a good bite and several ice holes often result in a fisherman scrambling all over the place to keep up with the fish.The bait of choice will be minnows, a favorite food of the local predator species: perch, rock bass, largemouth bass, pickerel and pike. Past derbies have yielded fish of up to four and five pounds, Smith said.
The biggest fish (longest if there's a tie for weight) of the day will get the lucky (or highly skilled) angler a gift certificate. There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for kids 14 and under. None will be sold on the ice, but they will be available right up until March 7. The tickets, besides being an entry fee, will also be a meal voucher, good for one hamburger or hot dog and a beverage. Additional food will be for sale on the ice. Tickets can be purchased at the CRA or at Smitty's. The shop, of course, sells ice fishing gear, in addition to all manner of other sporting goods.
And, just as timing means everything when one is gunning to catch a lunker, so is it with getting into Smitty's Sporting Goods on Route 9, which is open from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 8 to 5.
Why the odd hours? "Because we work full time," said Smith of himself and business partner and brother Doug Smith, the other Smitty. Bill Smith works for a lumber company, and Doug has another business. "[The bait and tackle shop] is more or less our hobby."
