Syracuse.com - N.Y.S. Crappie Derby at Whitney Point Reservoir set for this Saturday

[HuntingNY-News]

The purse is currently over $13,000 and still growing.

After being cancelled the past two years because of lack of ice, the annual New York State Crappie Derby on the Whitney Point Reservoir is on for this Saturday, the derby's spokesman confirmed today.

"The Whitney Point Sportsmen's Association has been advised that the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation has evaluated the ice conditions at Whitney Point Lake, along with this week's forecast and deemed that conditions are favorable for safe ice," said David Hughes, the derby's coordinator.

The popular derby was originally scheduled for Jan. 25, but was rescheduled for this Saturday because of concern over the thickness of the ice.

New York State offers anglers two types of crappie -- and white and black. The crappie in the Whitney Point Reservoir in Broome County are predominately white crappie.

"If our judges come across a black crappie, chances are it didn't come from our lake and the judges will reject it," Hughes said.

The purse is currently over $13,000 in cash, merchandise and gift certificates "and growing,"Hughes said. Registration is $2 for those over 12 years of age. Persons registered will have opportunities to win prizes in many fishing categories and also door prizes.

"People don't even have to catch a fish to win a door prize. They'll be offered every hour," he said. "We'll also go around looking for kids who are cold and tired or bored...and we'll look for a reason to give them a prize."

Also this year, free public skating will be available courtesy of the Whitney Point Rotary. The rink will be created just offshore near the North Pavilion. Bring your skates. Free loaner skates will be provided as available.

Displays on the ice will include:

- The National Weather Service (including a Real Time Weather Station providing instantaneous weather information such as temperature, wind velocity and wind chill).

- EMTs will be available with a sheltered area.

- The Ross Park Zoo will have an exhibit of species appropriate to the weather.

- The Finch Hollow Nature Center will be on-hand with displays and to answer questions.

- The Broome County Underwater Dive Team will be present to demonstrate their skills.

- The Amigo Search & Rescue K9 dog training organization will be on hand with some of their K9 charges.

Free parking is available at Dorchester Park and parking is also available on Kiebel Road on the West side of the lake.

The derby hours will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 3 p.m., prizes will be awarded for the biggest crappie of the day (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and the biggest fish of a number of fish species.

Prizes will also be awarded every 15 minutes for the largest crappie caught during that time period. This is being done to encourage a steady flow of fish to the judges throughout the day, Hughes said.

For more information or to register, see crappiederby.com or call Hughes at (607) 692-3263.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog