submitted by Liz Wagner
The 28th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing contest at Grafton Lakes State Park was a big success with an estimated 2,500 people in attendance over the course of the day’s activities.
[private]Children ran snowshoe races, had sled rides from Newfoundlands, went snow bowling and competed in snowball throwing contests, among many other adventures. Snowshoe demos and outings in the park, a Polar Plunge benefitting Cystic Fibrosis, and an Ice Rescue demo with NYS Police Troop G Dive Team were also big draws at the event. The ice hardened up just in time for the ice fishing contest, which had over 230 adults and 50 children participating on all six ponds in the park.
“Everyone here at the Park has a blast putting on a big outdoor party in the middle of January every year, and we’re overjoyed to see such a large turnout!” said event coordinator, Liz Wagner.
This event is free to the public thanks to the generous contributions of time and money that come from local volunteers and businesses. The Park raised over $2,000 in funds and in-kind donations and had over 100 volunteers in attendance at the event.
Earlier in the week, it had looked as though the thaw might cancel many activities as well as the ice fishing contest, but Mother Nature came through in the end. One long time visitor to the Park remarked that it must have been Tom Conklin, the former Park Manager who passed away just over a year ago, who pulled some strings to make winter return just in time.
Ice Fishing Contest Winners
The winners of the ice fishing contest received big prizes,
with the first place entries all picking up $300 in cash.
Adults
Perch: 1st – Jimmy Mears – 13”, 2nd – Matt Behan – 12¼”, 3rd – James King – 11 7/8”
Pickerel: 1st – Jerry Roberto – 25½”, 2nd – Tyler Mason – 25”, 3rd – Will Grogan – 24¼”
Trout: 1st – Jason Flemming – 19”, 2nd – Todd Dunham – 16½”, 3rd – Mike Casey – 15”
Youth
Perch: 1st – Zac Hotaling – 12½”, 2nd – Chase Saborin – 11¼”, 3rd – Brad Senecal – 8½”
Pickerel: Catherin Whitman – 21¾”, 2nd – Kristjon Culbertson – 20”, 3rd – Marcel Guenette – 19½”
Trout: 1st – Nikki Minkler – 12½” – no 2nd or 3rd place finishers.
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