Todd Koivisto hold his two prize wining fish, a 12-3/8″ perch and a 16-1/2″ bass. (Photo submitted)
RUSSELL – Despite sub-zero temperatures, strong gusts of wind, and a snowstorm that developed late in the day, nearly ninety anglers participated in the third “Holey Moses Ice Fishing Derby” held Saturday.
“We were very pleased but also quite surprised at such a large turnout given the extreme cold and snow cover on the pond” said Don Blair, of Russell First, a volunteer-based citizens group that hosted the event.
Taking first place in the largest pickerel class was William Webster of Westfield who landed a 24” specimen that also proved to be the largest fish brought in for the day. Runnerup was Sullivan Webster with a respectable 20-1/2” pickerel.
Bringing in the largest bass was Todd Koivisto of Russell at 16-1/2”. Koivisto’s catch edged out Tyson Carpenter’s bass by a quarter of an inch which measured 16-1/4” in length.
Todd Koivisto also took home the prize for the largest perch measuring 12-3/8”, as it was the only perch checked in over the course of the derby. There were no reports of any trout being landed.
Although many fishermen brought stoves and cooked hot meals while out on the ice, hot chocolate, venison chili, and clam chowder we available at no charge to help ward off the effects of the arctic conditions.
The fishing derby raised $795 which is being donated to the Horace A. Moses Boy Scout Reservation, located on Russell Pond, to help offset incidental expenses incurred during the operation of the camp.
“The new location for registration and checking station was key in helping to make it a great day for everyone”, said Blair, “so we thank Ranger Jason Boyer for his help this in getting us located at the Boy Scout beachfront and for clearing the deep snow in that area.”
In previous years the checking station was located at the Russell Town Beach parking lot situated at the top a steep hill making it tedious for anglers to check their catch and difficult to pull sleds loaded with fishing gear from the ice at the end of the day.
