1st Annual Ladies’ Fish Derby

Written by admin on 15 June 2010

White River’s First Annual Ladies’ Fish Derby

by Karina Hunter

Saturday evening's welcoming committee.

CROCKER LAKE – June 13^th, White River’s 1^st Annual Ladies’ Fish Derby, wound up tonight with a fish fry at Crocker Lake. Though only 6 ladies registered for the derby, plenty of fun was had throughout the weekend as each of these had a husband or friends who came out to cheer them on.

Organizer Tara Hart (stern) with Manitouwadge native now re-located to White River, Melinda Ray

Friday night, Frankie Desmoulin, Steve Vanderveck and Hank Duplassie came out, guitars in hand, to provide entertainment around the campfire. As the night went on, some of the ladies decided to assist the guitarists as lead or back up singers adding to the entertainment. It seems there was no official time recorded in regards to Friday’s end.

Linda Houston ready to weigh-in her catch.

Saturday morning, in spite of much merriment the night prior, the ladies were ready to head back out to their lakes of choice. Included in the lakes open to derby participants were:

Ruthie Lake – Pickerel, Pike, Perch
Danny Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Fungus Lake – Pickerel, Pike, Perch
Crocker Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Leo Lake – Specs / Splake
Round Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Caribou Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Mathews Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Johns Lake – Perch
Fido Lake – Pickerel, Pike
Mercury Lake – Specs / Splake
Twin Lakes on Rd 600 – Specs / Splake
Pierotte- Specs / Splake
Little Lake – Pickerel / Perch
Doe Lake – Perch
Buck Lake – Specs / Splake
Oganuc/Indian Lake – Pickerel / Pike
Dos Lake – Pickerel / Pike
Okoko Lake – Pickerel / Pike

Many, though not all, of these lakes saw fisherwomen at some point throughout the 3 day derby. As of Saturday, when OntarioNewsNorth.com stopped by Crocker Lake, there were 5 pike & a pickerel which had been entered in for a shot at some terrific prizes.

As I arrived I was welcomed by Nancy MacLoed and Michelle Steton, who hadn’t registered for the derby but were staying for the weekend to enjoy the company of their friends who had. While we sat at the campfire, chatting about the weekend so far, the registered fisherwomen returned one boat at a time.

Linda Houston caused quite a commotion as she came to shore, climbing out of the boat her husband had been navigating with a 3 ¾ lb pike on her chain. The ladies joined Houston as she went to the main building to weigh and measure her catch. Though most of the weekend’s catches were to become Sunday’s Fish Fry menu, Houston did return hers to the lake.

The crew who registered...Jocelyne LeBreton, Velma Desmoulin, Linda Houston, Melinda Ray and organizer Tara Hart.

As I was leaving, the campfire was just becoming more populated, the ladies were sweet and invited me to stay and camp out, unfortunately I had to get back to the Hwy as work was waiting at home but I did commit to registering next year and am definitely looking forward to it. This is an easy going, down to earth weekend that every Northshore woman should include in her summer plans!