In its 38th year, the Colby Classic returned back to its roots and held an in-person competition for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Last year the derby held a virtual competition that allowed participants to submit a photo of the fish that was caught through an app. Along with bringing back its in-person competition, organizers also kept the event’s virtual format from last year.

“You have to have so hearty souls to ice-fish,” Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club board member Rocky Nogales said. “Everybody had a good time and in a way that’s a huge success for this community.”

Nogales said there were more than 100 entries on Lake Colby competing in the salmon, trout and perch categories for the youth and adult divisions.

Nick Marrone, of Plattsburgh, shows off the 28-inch salmon he pulled in at the Colby Classic on Sunday, the largest caught during the derby. He said the fish have him a good fight, lasting around 20 minutes. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

Nogales said there were around 65 entries competing in the northern pike division, which were submitted virtually and caught on other bodies of water in the Tri-Lakes area because Lake Colby does not have northern pike.

The tournament, which is organized by the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club, included a $100 prize for each winner in each category. Prizes were also awarded to the top three places in both adult and children’s divisions.

At just 7 years old, Claudia Lawrence wound up with the longest fish in the tournament. Lawrence caught a 35.25-inch northern pike, which earned her first place in the youth pike competition.

“She couldn’t hold it up, she really struggled apparently because it was too big for her,” Nogales said. “She’s 7 years old and she was absolutely precious with that.”

Youngsters Caleb Contreras and Hannah Barber both caught a northern pike that was 27.75 inches in length, but Contreras was awarded second place since his fish was caught two hours prior to Barber’s.

Kenny Quillia poses for a photo on Lake Colby during the 38th annual Colby Classic ice fishing derby on Sunday. Quillia competed alongside his son Jeremy in the derby. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“God bless their parents and grandparents and friends that brought out kids here to experience this type of activity,” Nogales said. “It’s all about our children and our children’s future. That was beautiful to watch these kids smile.”

Bonnie Myatt said she’s come out for this event over the past seven years with her daughter. She started for the life skills.

“You’re giving your kids a good foundation, something other than a video game,” she said.

They keep coming back for the good food and camaraderie on the lake.

“It’s almost like a little miniature town,” Myatt said.

Claudia Lawrence, of Vermontville, poses with a northern pike she caught during the 38th annual Colby Classic on Sunday. (Photo provided)

In the adult division for the northern pike category, David Salamy hauled in the longest fish at 34.5 inches. Braden Ryan was second with a 32-inch pike and John Skiff placed third at 31.5 inches.

It was a solid weekend of ice fishing for Nick Marrone, who caught the longest trout — 16.25-inches — and salmon in the adult division.

Marrone said he struggled with his salmon, a 28-inch female, for around 20 minutes.

The salmon was not one of the tagged fish the DEC stocked the lake with last week — which were worth $100 each. It was a “ye olde local,” Myatt said.

Marrone said he wanted to let the fish go, but the fight to pull her up was too much and she wasn’t going to survive. He’s considering having the fish stuffed to display on his wall.

He had traveled from Plattsburgh to his hometown of Saranac Lake for the derby.

Zach Durfee was runner-up in the salmon competition, with a 25.25 inches catch. Steve Bombard earned third place at 25 inches.

In the trout category, Roger Pratt finished in second place at 15 inches and Richard Gargar was third at 14.5 inches.

Charlie Marshall had the top perch at 11.75 inches. James Moschell and Curt Staves had the same sized perch at 11.5 inches, but Moschell caught his a day before to earn second place.

In the youth perch category, Samuel Duprey caught the top two longest fish which happened to be identical in length at 11.75 inches. The two perch were caught at different parts of the lake. Cedar Rivers earned third place with an 11.25 perch, while Nolan Burnett finished in fourth at 11 inches.

Jeremy Quillia earned the win in the youth trout competition. Quillia’s 14.75-inch trout was the only trout caught in the youth division.

No one was able to catch one of the 15 tagged salmon, which were stocked in the lake on Thursday.