More than 200 anglers gathered on frozen Contoocook Lake in Jaffrey for the 47th annual ice fishing derby hosted by Pelletier’s Sports Shop on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Participants competed in five categories: pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, crappie and hornpout.
Dylan Kerylow of Swanzey took first place in the pickerel category with a fish weighing 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Callan Brogan of Jaffrey won the white perch division with a 14-ounce catch.
In the yellow perch category, Gabe Paquin of Fitzwilliam secured first place with a 1-pound fish, while Aaron Lafreniere of Greenville’s 1-pound, 2-ounce crappie earned top honors in that division. Jack Camire of Amherst claimed first place for hornpout with a catch weighing 1 pound, 2 ounces.
“We’ve been in business for 57 years. The tourney has happened for 47 of them,” Pelletier’s Sports Shop owner Bruce Pelletier said. He said there was considerable interest in hosting a tournament, so he decided to start one all those years ago.
The tournament averages 200 participants a year, but Pelletier has seen as many as 400 take part. He holds a raffle to encourage participants to pre-register.
Prices included jigging poles, bait buckets and a new ice auger. A jigging pole is a fishing rod that uses moving lures.
Pelletier said contestants could catch as many fish as they like, but only two fish can be prize winners. “If someone catches a first, second and third-place winning fish, only two can be used for prizes.”
Once a contestant caught a fish, they brought it to the weigh-in tent where staff member Matt Landale was ready with a scale and measuring stick. Bruce’s wife, Cheryl Pelletier –who has helped with the tournament for 43 years — took note of the fish type and its angler’s name.
“Scoring is based off weight,” Landale said. “Pickerel usually end up as our biggest catches most years. The winners average about 2 1/2 pounds.” He added that they measure length for tie breakers.
Tickets cost $12 and the money is donated to various organizations in Jaffrey, including the Fire Department, Team Jaffrey, and the Chamber of Commerce, among others.
The Pelletiers are expecting over $2,000 in money raised during the competition.
Eric Manning from Ashburnham, Mass., arrived early in the morning to meet a friend who canceled at the last minute. “I was on the ice by 6:45. I had already paid $63 for my New Hampshire Fishing License and the $12 entry fee, so I figured I might as well make the most of it,” Manning said. He set up five tip-ups and one jigging pole. Tip-ups are a stationary live bait device with a flag that pops up when a fish grabs the hook.
This was Manning’s first year taking part in the derby, but he’s a lifelong fisherman. “I’ve been fishing since I was 4. I try to go out and do it every day if I can.”
He had some early luck, but it petered out once other groups got on the ice. “So far, I’ve got four bluegill and one bass. The bass was a solid 5 pounds. It’s a shame they don’t take them anymore,” Manning said. Despite not catching regulation fish, he was still making the most of it. “I’ve got my radio, my bucket, some jerky and my jig. Not a bad way to spend the day.”
Bass used to be part of the competition, but New Hampshire no longer allows bass catching in tournaments. “They can keep and eat them, but we can’t weigh them,” Pelletier said.
“Even if participants don’t catch anything, they’re still happy to be out on the ice having a good time,” Landale said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of Callan Brogan’s name.