Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HEATH PITTSLEY, of Wakefield pulls his "fish trap" containing all the group's fishing gear. Isabela Lampart, (left) 6, of Ironwood, and Jordan Lampart, 7, of Ironwood are by his side during the annual Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department Ice Fishing Contest held at Sunday Lake and the Wakefield VFW on Saturday. Over 350 adults and 125 kids attended the contest.
By PAT KRAUSE
Wakefield - The annual Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department Ice Fishing Contest was held on Sunday Lake and in the Wakefield V.F.W. on Saturday during Michigan's free fishing weekend.
The event brought out 350 adults and has a lot of appeal for the more than 125 kids who participated. This was in spite of early-morning temperatures that hovered around four degrees below zero with a wind chill of 20 below.
"For the weather, we had a good turnout," said Jim Tarro, who is one the three chairpersons with Mike Singleton and Jenni Jacobson. "The whole community supports us. The whole area support is phenomenal."
Later in the day, the temperatures rose to 15 degrees with bright sunshine.
The ice fishing contest has been going on for 30-40 years in Wakefield and while many come to fish, others want to break up the monotony of winter and come to the Wakefield V.F.W. to socialize with friends and neighbors.
"It is now the largest social event in Wakefield," Tarro said. "It's the perfect time of the year with people having three or four days of vacation. If people are from out-of-town, they can come up and see family and friends and bring their kids. It's a fun day for everybody."
One thing the ice fishing contest has always done is give out a lot of prizes. Tarro said there were more than $10,000 in prizes with both cash and item donations. Most of the donors come from local people and businesses.
In the past, Mike Yon has said the fire department couldn't run this event without the donors support. The firefighters, their spouses and other volunteers put on the ice fishing contest.
Members of the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department thanked those who supported the ice fishing contest. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase fire suppression equipment.
Results
1st place - Zach Demerath, 10-inch perch; 2nd place - Zach Demerath, 9 3/4-inch perch; 3rd place - Zach Demerath, 9-inch perch; 4th place - Kyle Whitburn, 7 1/2-inch perch.
