Young anglers flock to Smith Lake fishing derby
The Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 12 months AGO
<p><strong>Alona Johnson</strong> and her puppy Bella inspect the pike she just reeled in Saturday during the 44th annual Kalispell Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby on Smith Lake. Johnson ended up with the largest pike of the day. More than 400 people dropped lines into the frozen lake hoping to catch fish and win prizes.</p><div> </div>
<p>Nash Lisowski, 5, fishes with grandfather Bob Lisowski during the 44th annual Kalispell Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Bella, a beagle puppy, bays as she sits inside a sled at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Michael Thompson decides that playing snow plow with a shovel is more entertaining than fishing during the fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jacob Ost, 9, drills a hole in the ice with an auger during the fishing derby on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Five-year-old Grant Lisowski brings his pike to the weighing booth during the 44th annual Kalispell Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Maddy Smith shovels snow with a ice fishing ladle during the fishing derby on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
More than 400 anglers took to the ice Saturday on Smith Lake for the 44th annual Kalispell Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby.
Youngsters made up the biggest part of the crowd.
Anglers landed hundreds of small pike and fewer numbers of perch on jigs tipped with maggots or smelt.
“This is a great family event,” said Warren Illi of the Sunriser Lions Club. “We had a terrific turnout and decent weather. It was great to see so many kids catching fish.”
A popular part of the event is the contest for the smallest perch and pike.
Winners included:
-- Largest pike: 6-plus pounds, Alona Johnson
-- Smallest pike: 168 grams (0.37 pounds), Ty Crofts
-- Largest perch: 1.33 pounds, Jaylund Rammell
-- Smallest perch: 226 grams (0.5 pounds), Kaylee Rammell
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