The Fish House Fish & Game Club held its first Summer Fishing Contest on Great Sacandaga last Saturday, Aug. 20. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the composite results of the event so we’ll have to wait until next week’s column for that but here are some details I can share with you.

The contest was headquartered at Captain Carl’s on South Shore Road, Edinburg, within sight of the Batchellerville Bridge. Some 63 anglers participated in this inaugural contest and they enjoyed near perfect fishing weather with warm temperatures, a slight breeze, virtually cloudless skies and, most importantly, no rain.

The weigh station was located about as conveniently as one could ask for. It was on a large pontoon boat located right at Captain Carl’s dock, allowing many participants to have their entries weighed without even having to get out of their boats. Of course, many others chose to drive to the weigh station but it was only a short distance from the parking area to the pontoon boat.

Fish House Fish & Game Club members assisting at the event included: Bill Bernhardt, Millie Waldron, Eric Setzer, Frank Tokarowski, Chris Penichter, John Wszolek, and John Rodriguez. The club also extends special thanks to Captain Carl’s for the generous use of his facilities, dock and parking area.

BIG BUCK CONTEST

A reminder that the Big Buck contest sponsored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is up and running and has already received a number of registrations. Most hunters will feel comfortable in this event because it closely matches other, similar, events that have previously been held in the area. In a nutshell, here are the specifics.

First through third prizes will be presented for the heaviest deer entered in the rifle/shotgun/crossbow division; the archery division; and one prize each in the muzzleloader, female hunter, heaviest doe and youth (age 19 and under) divisions. The entry deadline for this contest s Oct. 14 and the entry fees are $25 for the main contest, plus $5 each for the muzzleloader, archery and doe divisions.

In other words, it will cost you $25 to $40, depending upon the number of divisions you wish to enter. The dollar amount of prizes to be presented will be dependent upon the number of registrations received.

The remaining rules governing the event are simple and straightforward - the deer must be legally taken and properly tagged; all deer must be free-ranging, in other words no preserve animals; deer can be taken anywhere in New York State.

The weigh stations for this contest are Tuman’s Tavern on Forest Avenue in Amsterdam, Loopie’s Pub on Mohawk Drive in Tribes Hill and Lock, Stock & Barrel on Highway 10 in Palatine Bridge. If none of those locations happen to be open when you want to enter a buck or doe you can call Tom Georgia at 518-258-9448. Tom’s address is 111 Pine Street, Tribes Hill.

Prizes will be awarded on Jan. 7, 2012 at Loopie’s Pub in Tribes Hill. In addition, all paid registrants will be eligible for various door prizes, including a rifle. To enter just fill out a brief registration form and drop the entry off at the Chamber offices in the Riverfront Center in Amsterdam. If you don’t have a registration form just email the Chamber or me and one will be sent to you.

A GREAT GIFT

This is more hunting-related but if you’re looking for a great gift for the baseball fan in your family, look no further. Next month, Joe DiMaggio’s own shotgun will go on the auction block. It’s a Winchester Model 21 side-by-side with 30 inch barrels, one in full choke and the other in extra full.

The Yankee Clipper, Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio, used the gun for duck hunting, as did a later owner. Unfortunately, the stock was later damaged when a duck blind caught fire but the then-owner had it replaced in 2007. Still, despite that replacement stock it’s still a piece of history and should fetch a handsome price on the auction block. I hesitate to guess but I’ll say it’ll probably bring around $200,000.