Syracuse.com - Gloversville angler catches biggest fish in Salmon River Fishing Derby

[HuntingNY-News]

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The tournament ran Oct. 5-7. The winner took home $1,000.

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<div id="asset-11697677" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="259" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11697677-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="Salmon Derby 2012.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">Submitted photo</span><span class="caption">Fishing buddes, Leo Hoyt, and Robert Brown, with Hoyt's derby winning fish. </span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div>

<p>Leo Hoyt was in downtown Pulaski fishing the Salmon River when he heard about the Salmon River Fishing Derby — on the day before it was set to start.</p>

<p>"I was sitting on the stone wall by the bridge in Pulaski. Something inside told me to enter. I figured it was my daughter speaking to me,” he said.</p>

<p>Hoyt, of Gloversville, said his 27-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn Gannon, died in February, leaving three children behind. Hoyt signed up for the three-day derby, Oct. 5-7, and dedicated his effort to his daughter.</p>

<p>He would have made her proud. The first day he landed a 33-pound, 7-ounce chinook salmon. It held up as the largest fish of the competition, said Vernon Chamberlain, the tournament director.</p>

<p>"He won $1,000,” Chamberlain said. “He had her picture in his wallet and folded his fishing license behind her photo to give him good luck.”</p>

<p>Hoyt, who is self-employed and does roofing and siding work, was fishing with Robert Brown, of Fort Johnson, his fishing buddy of more than 40 years. Brown netted the winning fish, which Hoyt caught on a piece of orange sponge.</p>

<p>This year’s derby attracted 77 anglers, including two from California, four from Canada and two from France, Chamberlain said. Proceeds from the event went to the sport fishing museum.</p>

<p>The biggest coho salmon was caught by Toby Workman, of Sandy Creek. It weighed 14 pounds, 4 ounces, and he won $125. Derby officials also handed out a number of daily cash and raffle prizes.</p>

<p>Chamberlain said the weekend, which included the derby and the Salmon River Festival, was a big success.</p>

<p>“The town was overflowing,” he said.</p>

<p>Hoyt said he split the $1,000 with Brown, “gave some to his wife,” and plans to spend the rest while fishing the Salmon River this weekend with his grandson, Brandon, 8, who is one of his daughter’s children.</p>

<p>“They put on a real nice thing,” he said. “I’ll have to come up next year to defend my title.” <br /></p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog