by Liz Wagner
Despite forecasts of an arctic blast, Grafton Lakes State Park’s 26th Annual Winter Festival visitors encountered sunny skies and temperatures in the upper teens on January 22. Combined with the two feet of snow throughout the Park, the weather made for a perfect setting for an event that entertained about 1,500 patrons throughout the day.
The annual Ice Fishing Contest had ninety-nine participants this year,
fishing on all six ponds of the Park. The $500 cash Grand Prize for the longest fish went to Todd Bamrick for his 24” pickerel. First place winners in the adult category were Justin Rumpler with a 21¼” pickerel, Rory O’Brien with an 11½” yellow perch and Justin Adamo with an 18¼” rainbow trout. In the Youth Category first place children caught some sizable fish as well with Bobby Simmons’ 22½” pickerel and Connor Hughes’ 121/8” yellow perch.
Winter Festival visitors had a wide array of activities that encouraged exploring nature and enjoying the outdoors for the day. One of the well attended events was the Polar Plunge, in which 35 brave souls leapt into the frigid waters of Long Pond to the cheers of a large audience. Proceeds from the Plunge went to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Park was very thankful for the Grafton Rescue Squad and State Police Ice Dive Team’s attendance as emergency responders to the Polar Plunge.
Children threw snowballs and raced on snowshoes, rode on sleds pulled by Newfoundlands as well as a traditional husky dog sled team and tried their hands at crafts ranging from the Grafton Historical Society’s corn husk dolls to life
size animal tracks print-making. Forest Friends 4-H managed to create a quinzee (snow shelter) big enough for four teenagers to fit into. Indian Creek Farm provided wagon rides led by their powerful team of Percheron horses. Many snowmobilers also came out to enjoy the day and the excellent conditions on Park trails which the Grafton Trail Blazers had diligently worked to groom all week.
The Park would like to thank all the community organizations, sponsors and volunteers that helped make the day a success.
26th Annual Ice Fishing Contest Results
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 99
Grand Prize Winner – $500 – Todd Bamrick – 24” Pickerel
Adult
Pickerel
1st place – Justin Rumpler – 21¼”
2nd and 3rd Places – Steve Brown 20½” and 20”
Yellow Perch
1st Place – Rory O’Brien 11½”
2nd Place – Wayne Gundrum 10” at 1:30 pm
3rd Place – Tom Ciesielczyk 10” at 1:40 pm
Trout
1st Place – Justin Adamo 18¼” rainbow trout
2nd Place – Marek Kokosko 17 5/8” brown trout
3rd Place – Lewis Manico 13¼” brown trout
Youth
Pickerel
1st Place – Bobby Simmons 22½”
2nd Place – Tyler Heloy 16¼”
3rd Place – Robert Waterse 16”
Yellow Perch
1st Place – Connor Hughes 12 1/8”
2nd Place – Robert Simmons 10”
3rd Place – Jacob Alesio 8”
No trout caught in youth category.
