Montana's oldest fishing derby

Northwest Montana residents love to fish and love friendly sports competition. So it’s natural to combine both of these loves into ice fishing contests.

One of Montana’s oldest winter fishing derbies will be held Saturday, Dec. 31, at Smith Lake. This is the Kalispell Sunriser Lions Club’s 46th annual ice fishing derby.

This derby is designed to promote family fishing. The Sunriser Lions want to see the whole family out fishing. It is always fun to meet new residents and out-of-state grandparents who have never walked on a frozen lake or have never experienced ice fishing. I’ve been involved in this ice derby for the last 30 years and enjoy seeing some folks that I only see once a year.

The primary sponsor of this derby is Sportsman & Ski Haus. They donate most of the prizes. Flathead Walleyes Unlimited, a local fishing club, is donating 100 ice fishing rods and reels. Flathead Wildlife, a local sportsmans club has also stepped up by donating prizes for the smallest perch and smallest pike contests. Overall, prizes total about $1,500.

Sportsman and Ski Haus has generously donated many prizes including $100 gift certificates for the largest pike and largest perch. Anglers catching the second-largest pike and perch will get $50 gift certificates. The largest winning pike is normally around 6-8 pounds, but we know that Smith Lake holds some 10-20 pound lunkers. In recent years, pike have greatly reduced the Smith Lake perch population. But the surviving perch are generally much larger and better eating size. There will be additional prizes for the third and fourth largest pike and perch.

Kids especially like the competition and prizes for the smallest perch and smallest pike contests. The smallest pike and perch contests are for kids 15 and under. Usually it takes a 20-gram or smaller perch to win the smallest perch prize. 20 grams is less than 1/20th of a pound. The small perch must be caught on hook and line. Last year one fisherman brought in a 1-inch-long perch that was spit up by a pike. That was not an angling caught fish for our fish contest. What can be more fun than going ice fishing, getting out in the refreshing winter out-of-doors, and maybe winning a nice prize?

Thanks to the generosity of the local Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, free ice fishing rods and reels will be given to the first 100 kids who catch a fish. Kids should bring their trophy fish, large or small, to tournament headquarters at the Lions concession trailer to get a rod. If you don’t have an ice fishing rod, we’ll give you a rod to get started.

Door prizes will be awarded each hour. There will be a warming fire and free s’mores for the kids. There will also be a split-the-pot contest for cash. Refreshments available will include hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, chili dogs, coffee, hot chocolate, soda and other food items that will be available from the Lions Club concession trailer.

This fish derby starts at 7 a.m. and runs to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. So you can go fishing and be home in time for the collage championship football games or a New Years eve nap. Derby entry fees are minimal, just $7 for adults, $3 for kids and $12 for the whole family.

Register for this fish derby at Fish, Wildlife and Parks public lake access site at Smith Lake on tournament day.

Parking for this popular event has become a problem. The small parking lots at FWP’s lake access site fill up early. This year, parking will be allowed only on one side of the county road, so the county road is not blocked for large emergency vehicles. So if you come later in the morning, plan to drop off your party at the FWP access site.

That way only one person will have to make the long walk down the county road from your parking spot.

This is a great Flathead family fishing tradition. All derby proceeds are used by the Sunrisers Lions to promote local family fishing and youth projects. If you have questions, call me at 257-5703 or 890-0205. Have a Merry Christmas. I hope to see you on the ice at Smith Lake.