Syracuse.com - Lions Club walleye derby drew nearly 1,9000 anglers on Oneida Lake this past weekend (Updated story)

[HuntingNY-News]

The winner, Daniel VanMeter, was from North Syracuse. His fish measured 23 3/4 inches. See the top 25 finishers.

Submitted photoDaniel Van Meter and his winning walleye, for which he received a check for $1,000.

Nearly 1,900 anglers flocked to Oneida Lake this weekend for the annual Cicero-Mattydale Lions Club Walleye Derby.

This year's winner for the largest fish was Daniel Van Meter, of North Syracuse. His fish measured 24 3/4 inches and weighed 5.4 pounds. He received $1,000 for this efforts. He caught it Saturday on a jig.

The competition was close as a spread of two inches and sleight weight differences separated the first 25 places.

At Sunday's awards tournament, an excited Van Meter hugged the trophy. He said he had been fishing for 30 years and his personal goal for years was to win this tournament --- and he finally did.

Money goes back into the community, according to Rob Goffredo, a member of the Lions Club.

A recent example, he said, of a donation made by the club was the purchase of an I-pad for Matthew Leyva, a disabled soldier who lost his lower extremities and one arm and is currently being rehabilitated in Texas.

No tagged fish were caught for extra prize money. However, the bite was strong throughout the competition.

"There was a lot of good fish in the 18 to 20- inch range. Ought to be a good bite all summer," he said.

The following are the top 25 finishers. Information their entry's length, weight, girth and the amount of prize money won.

1. DANIEL VAN METER, NORTH SYRACUSE NY, 24 3/4", 5LB 4OZ , 13" , $1,000

2). JAMES NOWODOWSKI, HASTINGS NY, 24 3/4", 4LB 10OZ, 12 1/4" $750

3). JOE SAVERINO, CANASTOTA NY, 24 1/2", 5LB 15OZ , 13 1/2", $450

4). DALE HUGHES, PHOENIX NY, 23 3/4", 5LB 8OZ, 11" , $375

5). RICK HILLENBRAND, HASTINGS NY, 23 1/2", 4LB 4OZ, 12", $275

6). ROBERT PRCOURT III, SOLVAY NY, 23 1/2", 4 lb. 1 oz, 12 ", $225

7). FRANCIS CLEMENT, BREWERTON NY, 23 1/2" 3LB 5OZ, 11", $175

. JAMES DEAN, BALDWINSVILLE NY, 23 1/4", 4LB 2OZ, 11 1/2" , $150

9). MARK PISTELLO. CHITTENANGO NY, 23 1/4, 4LB 0OZ, 12 1/4" $125

10). GENE HARDTER , LIVERPOOL NY, 23 1/8", 4LB 6OZ, 13", $100

11). CHRIS KOSHINSKI, BINGHAMPTON NY, 23 1/8", 4LB 1OZ, 12 1/2", $75

12). MICHAEL LAFLAIR, CENTRAL SQUARE NY, 23", 4LB 4OZ, 12 1/2" , $75

13). TED DODBS, VERONA NY, 22 7/8", 4LB 3OZ, 12 1/2", $75

14). DAVE FARABEE, CICERO NY, 22 7/8", 3LB 7 OZ, 10 1/2" $75

15). JEFF MACLEAN, MCGRAW NY, 22 7/8", 3LB 3OZ, 11", $75

16). ROBERT SCHOEN, WHITESBORO NY, 22 3/4", 3LB 13OZ, 11 1/2", $50

17). JOHN CARROLL, LIVERPOOL NY, 22 3/4", 3LB 7OZ, 10 1/2", $50

18). BYRON PITCHER, HALLSTEAD PA, 22 5/8", 3LB 12OZ, 12", $50

19). STEVE ROSA, CENTRAL SQUARE NY, 22 1/2", 4LB 4 OZ, 11", $50

20). JOHN JOYCE, BREWERTON NY, 22 1/2", 4LB 2OZ, 11 1/12", $50

21). NICK SOKOLOWSK, CENTRAL SQUARE NY, 22 1/2", 3LB 9OZ", 11", $50

22). JOHN MOTHERSELL, SYRACUSE NY, 22 1/2", 3LB 8OZ, 11 1/2", $50

23). ZAK ZUPAN, CANASTOTA NY, 22 1/2", 3LB 8OZ, 10 1/2", $50

24). HILARY GERNSA, EAST SYRACUSE NY, 22 1/4", 3LB 10OZ, 10 inches, $50

25). SCOTT MILLER, MATTYDALE NY, 22 1/4", 3LB 8OZ, 11", $50

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog