However, as an added bonus, the weather was mild, the breeze gentle and temperatures hovered in the 40’s for much of the day.
It all came together essentially without a hitch, thanks to the efforts of Lou and Nancy Stutzke, Terry Sweierzowski and the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, Beaver and Maria Ross, Lanzi’s on the Lake, and many others who volunteered and worked on behalf of the event.
By day’s end, some 174 walleyes had been brought to the weigh station though it’s safe to say many more were caught but released without being entered for prize consideration. It’s also difficult to say just how many of the 1,500 registered anglers actually fished in the event but I think a good guess would be somewhere around 1,000, perhaps a bit more.
The largest walleye of the day was a five-pounder caught during hour two of the contest by John Breault of Warrensburg.
Hourly winners were as follows: Hour 1 - Andy DelliVeneri, Amsterdam; Tom Messak, Amsterdam; Butch Hibbard, Canandaigua; and Joel Rodriguez, Broadalbin. Hour 2 - John Breault, Warrensburg; Joshua Gebe, Middleburg; William Bulger, Johnstown; and Clifford Douglass, Canajoharie. Hour 3 - Chuck Mault, Gloversville; William George, Gloversville; Scott Reichel, Amsterdam; and Chris Gill, Edinburg. Hour 4 - Jim Ricciardi, Broadalbin; Dan Jenkins, Corinth; Chris Schuttig, Amsterdam; and David Earley, Broadalbin. Hour 5 - Frank Young, Gloversville; Earl Warner, Hope; Jeff Hanna, Broadalbin; and Frank Alvarez, Ft. Hunter. Hour 6 - Lou Ritz, Mayfield; Pete Chupka, Mayfield; Jeff Holt, Ft. Johnson; and Mark Muller, Gloversville. Hour 7 - Chad Crandall, Gloversville; Dan Sawyer, Broadalbin; Danielle Skellie, Gloversville, and Kenyon Otto from Northville. Hour 8 - Lou Ritz, Mayfield; John Mantica, Glenville; Zeak Yorks, Mayfield; and Anthony Lanzi, Gloversville.
Door prize winners throughout the day included: Charles Scharf, Lyn Dumar, Rick Reynolds, Eric Waffle, Chris Monohan, David Briot, Chris Ropetski, Mike Cooper, Debra Jablonski, Mike McElroy, Mike Anderson, Evie Leech, Aaron Grecynski, Dillan Tinkowski, David Leary, Todd Geerholt, Matt Doherty, Julia Yates, Kevin Florian, Ben Rogers, Landon Conyne; Joe Hennessey, Timmy Quinn, Melissa VanAlstyne, Angela Evans, Matt Long, Deana Schuttig, Tony Natale, Colby Kaczor, Joe Kilinski, Jim Nicosia, Jim Manzer, Tom Harrington, John Schulz, Matt Adams, Scott Ashley, Micky Sweet, Bruce Hall, Naye Hart, William Belknap and Jason Barnes.
Tim Rossi of Buskirk won a snowmobile and Scott Petrie of Johnstown and John Hladik of Johnstown each won 4-wheelers.
This contest was headquartered at Lanzi’s on the Lake, with another weigh station located at the State Launch in N. Broadalbin. According to information provided by Terry Swierzowski, President and Director of Tourism & Communication for the Fulton County Chamber, participants in this event came from eight states as well as 38 counties here in New York State.
GSLFF RESULTS
The annual contest sponsored and conducted by the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation was also held that day, with the headquarters and measuring station located at the Sacandaga Boating Club. A total of 285 anglers participated in this event, including 263 adults and 22 youngsters.
Winning entries in the northern pike division of this event were: 1. Joshua Boles, Gloversville, 36 3/4 inches; 2. Tom Douglas, Milton, 36 1/2 inches; and, 3. George Dempsey, Niskayuna, 35 7/8 inches. Jon Wilcox of Wells, took first and send places in the trout division with 18 1/8 inch and 16 1/4 inch entries, followed by the third place winner, Les Kruger of Amsterdam with a 16 1/8 incher. The perch division ended in a three-way tie with Ira Cromling of Braodalbin, Dan Mussen of Broadalnin and Jacob Elrod of Hagaman each bringing in identical 13 1/4 inch entries.
Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation committee members assisting at and with the contest included: Randy Gardinier, Jack Smith, Rich Miczek, John Fura, John Wszolek, Gus Muller, Rich Kedik and Brian Kedic.
The remaining Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation fishing contests for 2012 include the May 5 Spring Fishing Contest, the June 16 Summer Fishing Contest and the September 8 Fall Fishing Contest.
FISH HOUSE CONTEST
With the Walleye Challenge and the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation ice fishing contests now completed you can take a brief break this coming weekend and then look forward to a few other similar events on the lake.
The Fish House F & G Club Contest originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14 had been moved to its alternative date of Saturday, Feb. 11, about 10 days from today. All other contest details remained the same.
It will still be headquartered at the Town of Providence parking area on Route 110, 1/4 mile north of Fish House Corners. It will offer $2,400 in prize money and the fishing hours will be 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with prizes awarded soon after the 4 p.m. contest closing time.
Three prizes will be awarded in the walleye, northern pike, perch and trout divisions. The first place walleye will be worth $500, second place $150 and third place $100. Prizes in the northern pike, walleye and trout division will be as follows: first place in each of those three division - $300, second place $150 and third $100. The entry fee for this event is $20 per person, which includes free chili and coffee which will be served at the weigh station between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. the day of the event.
Contest entry forms are available and will be accepted at the Fuel & Food Store, Frank’s Gun & Tackle, Ross’ Bait Shop, Laport’s Bait Shop, Jim’s Bait Shop and Dave’s Bait Shop.