21″ Pickerel Wins the Day at Kids Ice Fishing Derby

Rabies Clinic on April 19 in East Andover

By Amanda Gross, AF&G volunteer
Seven of the winners in the Willis Nowell Memorial Kids Ice Fishing Derby, held on Eagle Pond in Wilmot on March 1 this year. Photo: Gordy Ordway
Seven of the winners in the Willis Nowell Memorial Kids Ice Fishing Derby, held on Eagle Pond in Wilmot on March 1 this year. Photo: Gordy Ordway

The Andover Fish and Game Club (AF&G) held the Willis Nowell Memorial Kids Ice Fishing Derby this year on March 1. It was cold and a little windy on Wilmot’s Eagle Pond, but 25 kids and their families made it out to this fun event.

Besides fishing, the kids were treated to free hot dogs and drinks, lucky prizes, and trophies for the longest fish. Twenty-four pickerel, four perch, and one trout were reeled in. Trophy winners for each type of fish were:

Pickerel

  • Braydon Burt, 21″

  • Nathaniel Hatch, 20 ⅝”

  • Kaitlyn French, 20 ¼”

  • Caleb Howe, 18 15/16″

Perch

  • Haylee Conklin, 9 ¼”

  • DJ Rankins, 8 ½”

  • Joe Ballou, 7 ⅜”

Other Fish

  • Raegan Burt, 11 ½” trout

The AF&G would like to thank this year’s derby sponsors – Jake’s Market of Andover, Smith River Trading Post of Danbury, and the Park and Go Market in Wilmot – for providing supplies. We would also like to thank everyone who came to the derby and who attended our fundraising events throughout the year. Your help makes it possible for us to host the kids fishing derbies and other community activities.

Rabies Clinic

There are two upcoming events in the spring. The AF&G will be hosting a Rabies Clinic at the East Andover clubhouse on Channel Road on Saturday, April 19 from 1 to 2 PM. The cost is $15 per pet.

The Kids Spring Fishing Derby will be held sometime in May on the Highland Lake Channel. More information will be provided on this derby in the next issue of the Beacon.