PROVIDENCE BAY—Under mostly sunny skies (but at times windy conditions), the annual Lake Kagawong Smallmouth Bass Derby proved again to be a huge success this year. Funds raised from the derby benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation and in turn local families.
“I would like to welcome everyone to our 28th annual Lake Kagawong Smallmouth Bass Derby,” said Linda Taylor, one of the main organizers of the event-at the awards ceremony held at the Providence Bay Community Centre, this past Sunday.
“I would like to thank our many sponsors for all their support and the prizes they have donated for the derby. All the prizes are donated by businesses and individuals,” stated Ms. Taylor. She pointed out most of the food for the fish fry was donated, and as well several people provided cash donations.
Ms. Taylor praised all the organizers, those who called around businesses-individuals and collected the prizes, all the cooks, The Islanders for providing the music Sunday, the people bartending, working at the door and dinner servers. For example, Mike Meeker donated fish for the dinner, and Cheryl Breathat baked 400 cookies for the dinner. Terry Hewton and his grounds crew were also praised for keeping the grounds in top shape for the weekend.
Ms. Taylor pointed out, “last year we raised $5,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and I’m very pleased to say we were able to grant Makenna Brooke Lentir (of Mindemoya) her Wish, and we have couple more
in the works.”
Condolences were bade to the family of the late Bud Weadick (who originally spearheaded this derby in the memory of Steven Shank Vincent), Ed Weadick’s family and the family of the late Steve Middaugh.
Ms. Taylor said every year organizers ask how the derby can be improved and one year when he was asked the late Steve Middaugh stated, “how can you improve anything when it is perfect.”
There were a total of 60 teams that took part in the derby this year, a total of
120 fishermen.
In the derby itself, taking first place overall with a total weight of six fish being 24.33 pounds was the team of Pat and Brent Levelle. They were presented with the Steven Shank Memorial Trophy for their efforts. The team of John Kada and Brad Levelle was second with a total of 24.11 pounds of fish, while third place went to the team of Keith and Alisha Lacroise with a total weight of their six fish being 23.56 pounds.
The award for the largest bass and the Joshua Montgomery memorial trophy was the Merv Bowerman- Graham Size team, with a catch of 5.15 pounds.
Winning the John Wright trophy for largest perch caught in the derby was Scott Willis, with a catch of .72 ounces.
The prize for the largest fish other than bass, by a female (and the Barb Weadick Memorial Trophy) was Jamie Lee Chatwell with a pike of 11.17.
The largest bass other than bass, by a male, and the Bob Haskett Memorial trophy was won by Scott Willis, with his perch.
Winning the mystery weight (11.27 pounds) prize and the Nora Weadick Memorial Trophy was Shelly Smith and Rob Wernunt with a catch of 10.71 pounds.
The Art Breathat Trophy for the largest perch caught by a youth was won by Ben Dewar, 0.9 pounds.
