January 24, 2024 |
Photo – Ice huts on Saratoga Lake – Courtesy Saratoga Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce
After a forced hiatus, the Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby returned this past weekend with a successful event.
The 40th annual Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby drew over 600 anglers to the area. Colorado resident Zac Cordova took home the $2,000 first place prize with his 33.25 inch long, 3.115 pound trout.
The Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event. The chamber’s Chief Executive Officer Amanda Knotwell said she was worried that canceling the 2023 event would impact participation this year. Knotwell said her fears were unfounded. The event was as popular as ever.
During the 2022 ice fishing derby, anglers pulled illegal yellow perch out of Saratoga Lake. The discovery of the illegally stocked perch lead Wyoming Game and Fish to initiate a lake-wide fish kill-off.
With no fish in the lake, the Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce was forced to cancel the ice fishing derby for the first time in 25 years.
Game and Fish restocked the lake with trout last summer. Knotwell said she worked closely with the state wild-life agency to ensure there would be plenty of large fish for this year’s ice fishing derby.
Knotwell said in total, 242 fish were submitted to the ice fishing derby judges. The chamber of commerce CEO said the total number of fish caught is likely much higher because anglers typically throw smaller fish back without bringing them to the judges’ attention.
Knotwell said Zac Cordova won first place in the adult category. Chris Sharrer and Jim Truesdale rounded out the top three.
Knotwell said Eaton, Colorado resident Ethan Varner won the small fly category with a 33 inch, 3.15 pound trout.
The chamber CEO said while Game and Fish employees were restocking the lake, she had biologists place pink tags on 20 trout. Anglers who caught the pink tagged fish received cash prizes. Knotwell said 3rd place overall winner Jim Truesdale brought in the first bounty fish of the weekend. Knotwell said in total, three bounty fish were caught during the tournament.
Knotwell said three trophy fish with orange tags were also stocked into Saratoga Lake for the fishing derby. The tagged fish were worth $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000 apiece. Knotwell said none of the trophy fish were caught during last weekend’s event. The Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO said the prize money is no longer valid.
Knotwell said cash prizes weren’t the only thing fishing derby participants would win. The chamber CEO said various sponsors provided door prizes to give away during the tournament. Knotwell said every angler was eligible to win one of the hourly prizes.
Knotwell also said Mother Mountain Anglers contributed door prizes for the event.
The chamber CEO said the 2023 Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The annual Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby is a major fundraising event for the Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce. Knotwell said she has been too busy with the aftermath of the tournament to calculate how much money was raised last weekend.
Knotwell said she still has 2024 Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby shirts and hoodies available to purchase at the Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce.
