Big fish and big prizes
SARANAC LAKE — A year ago, below zero temperatures and driving winds were prevalent during the annual Colby Classic ice fishing derby, which most likely lessened the number of competitors who braved the weather for the two-day event.
Last weekend provided much better conditions for the 34th annual Colby Classic, as Saturday’s temperatures hovered just below the freezing mark and Sunday being a bearable day despite bouts of the wind-blown snow that fell upon the Saranac Lake area. This year’s ice on Lake Colby was also ideal, with an average thickness of about 16 inches.
And with better weather came a bigger turnout as approximately 240 adults and youngsters participated in the Colby Classic, which is an annual event hosted by the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club.
The contest allows trout, perch, salmon and tagged salmon to be caught through the ice on Lake Colby in Saranac Lake, while northern pike can be fished from other area lakes and ponds. The derby featured both adult and youth divisions, and prizes were awarded for the top three catches in each category.
The Colby Classic will celebrate its 35th anniversary next year and hopes are that 35 tagged fish can be stocked and sponsored to mark the occasion. For more information on the derby or sponsorship, call the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club at 518-891-2560.