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PHOTOS: 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby

Casey Kreider | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 11 months AGO
by Casey Kreider
| December 28, 2019 3:27 PM

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Becky Powell and her granddaughter Estella take a walk around Smith Lake at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. Estella is carrying one of 100 rod and reel sets given away by the Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited at the derby, which serves as a fundraiser for the Sunriser's family fishing pond programs. The Lions also served up a variety of burgers, hot dogs, chili and hot drinks for attendees. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Colt Casazza, left, and Hudson Houser, both of Columbia Falls, carry a perch to be weighed at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Atalie Benton, of Kalispell, receives a new ice fishing rod and reel set from Warren Illi, left, with the Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, after getting her northern pike weighed with her father, Andy Kitzmiller, at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. The Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited donated 100 rod and reel sets to be given away at the derby, which serves as a fundraiser for the Sunriser's family fishing pond programs. The Lions also served up a variety of burgers, hot dogs, chili and hot drinks for attendees. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Tyler Corey, of Kalispell, reads the Daily Inter Lake while waiting for a bite at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Ice fishing tents dot the frozen surface of Smith Lake at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. The Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited donated 100 rod and reel sets to be given away at the derby, which serves as a fundraiser for the Sunriser's family fishing pond programs. The Lions also served up a variety of burgers, hot dogs, chili and hot drinks for attendees. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Becky Powell pulls her granddaughter Estella around Smith Lake at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Kwintyn Hicks, of Kalispell, holds a perch to be weighed by Joe Rudolph, left, president of the Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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A yellow Lab rests in a sled as his owner fishes at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Alona Johnson, of Columbia Falls, holds a northern pike she caught during the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Five northern pike caught by the Johnson family of Columbia Falls are laid out on the frozen surface of Smith Lake at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Finn Miller, of Whitefish, waits for a fish to bite at the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Tres Johnson, of Columbia Falls, holds a northern pike he caught during the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby on Saturday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Photos from the 49th annual Sunriser Lions ice fishing derby at Smith Lake in Kila on Saturday. The first 100 kids 12 and under to catch a fish received a free ice fishing rod and reel set from the Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited. The derby serves as a fundraiser for the Sunriser’s family fishing pond programs. The Lions also provided a variety of food and drink to stay warm, including grilled burgers, hot dogs, chili, hot drinks and marshmallows to roast by the warming fire.

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