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2010 Derby Prices
Fall Derby Adult: $30
Fall Derby Youth: $15
One-day Pass Fall Adult: $15
One-day Pass Fall Youth: $7
Contact LOC: toll free 888-733-5246
Grand Prize Comes Around for Sherwood
The saying “what goes around comes around” couldn’t be more appropriate for the Grand Prize winner of the 2010 Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby held June 19 thru July 18. Scott Sherwood of Lyndonville, NY earned the $7,500 Grand Prize by reeling in a 33 pound, 11 ounce salmon while fishing out of Olcott on July 10.
Over the years, Sherwood has served the public as a first mate on many a charter boat, buying derby tickets along the way to help satisfy his many customers. This time around, he hopped at the opportunity to fish with friend and charter captain Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown, operator of Wet Net Charters who was taking out his father Herbert from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a derby day on the water. They chose to fish out of Olcott, taking advantage of a particularly good summer salmon bite out of this popular Western Basin port.
“We were having a banner day on the water, reeling in over 25 fish on this particular outing,” said Sherwood at the awards ceremony located at Abe’s Waterfront in Sodus Point. “We were trolling a Yellow Tail Silver Streak spoon 90 feet down over 240 feet of water between Olcott and the Somerset Power Plant when the fish hit. It took us about 30 minutes to bring the fish in. And we actually lost one bigger because of sea fleas!” They were fishing out of Yablonsky’s 19-foot Lund, aptly named “Wet Net.”
While the one that got away is usually a fishing story of sorts, no one would question Sherwood’s integrity after the announcement that a 39 pound, three ounce king was brought to the scales in Olcott the final weekend of the derby – but the person reeling the monster in was not registered in the contest. Sherwood knew better. Due to an extremely busy season as an employee with Triple S Sporting Goods, he was only able to fish one day – so he bought a one day ticket. The rest is history. It was also the biggest king he’s ever caught.
First place in the Salmon Division was a 32 pound, 14 ounce king reeled in by Chris Yard of Fabius, NY. He caught the $1,000 fish the second day of the Oswego Pro-Am tournament while trolling a Northern King magnum glow frog spoon 120 feet down over 170 feet of water north of Mexico Bay. They were using a copper wire set-up, with 600 feet of wire laid out behind the boat. And when they finally got the fish to the boat, it folded the net handle in half. “It was the first fish of a triple of kings that we had on at the same time,” said Yard at the awards gathering. It enabled them to score the biggest comeback of the Amateur Division, jumping from 14th place to second place. He was fishing with Glen Gervais and Chris Wykoff, both of Massachusetts. And it was the biggest king Yard has ever caught, too. They were trolling out of Gervais’ 25-foot Wellcraft, “Spoonfed.” The story doesn’t end there.
Second place salmon went to Anthony Di Giovanni of Rochester with a 32 pound, 12 ounce salmon. He was fishing with a friend, Christopher Momot of Ontario, NY and Anthony’s niece, Jena Di Giovanni of Florida. “I bought my niece a derby ticket like a good uncle should,” said Di Giovanni to the crowd in Sodus. “She caught her first salmon, a 26 pounder!” For the prize winning fish, though, the trio were running a wire dipsy diver set up 220 feet back with a Spin Doctor and A-Tom-Mik Hammer Fly behind his 21-foot Wellcraft named “Bravo.” He noted that it was the largest king that he’s ever caught … so far. The fish is headed to the taxidermist.
Now for the rest of the Spoonfed team story. Team leader Glen Gervais normally doesn’t get to reel fish in for his team. However, during the final Sodus Pro-Am event, he was able to grab a rod the first day of the competition and produce the winning brown trout – an 18 pound, eight ounce fish caught near Sodus Point. He was using a prototype Northern King spoon 70 feet down over 75 feet of water. It enabled their team to win the Amateur Division of the Wayne County Pro-Am, as well as the East End and Lakewide Challenge Cup titles for 2010. And it was the biggest brown trout that he’s ever caught.
Second place brownie was a 17 pound, eight ounce fish weighed in by Professional Pro-Am competitor Capt. Brian Garrett of Cortland aboard his “Tall Tails” 28-foot Baha boat. He was trolling a black and silver Stinger spoon 87 feet down over 93 feet of water west of Sodus Point. It’s interesting to note that Garrett works closely with Gervais in the tournament circuit, what he calls his amateur partner. And it was Garrett’s biggest brown of his life. Garrett operates his Tall Tails Charters out of Mexico Point, NY.
In the Steelhead Division, Robert Heary of Cheektowaga, NY was fishing out of Olcott aboard his 20-foot Sylvan named “Bottom Feeder” with his buddy John Joyner of Pittsburgh when he caught the trout of a lifetime – a 20 pound, four ounce fish while using a green Natural Born Killer Stinger spoon. They were trailing leadcore line 50 feet down over 400-plus feet of water when the trophy hit. “We were just about to put the rod away when we encountered a significant cold water break, the air turned cool,” said Heary. “As soon as we hit the break, the fish hit the spoon.”
Second place steelhead was another Pro-Am competitor, but not while he was fishing a tournament. Capt. Richard Hajecki of Rochester was fishing with his brother, Craig, when they hooked into another lifetime best – a 17 pound, four ounce trout. They were trolling a Dreamweaver Super Slim Shiznit spoon 90 feet down over 130 feet of water in front of his home port of Point Breeze. He operates a 25-foot Bayliner named “Yankee Troller” for his charter operation.
In the Lake Trout Division, the father and son Klejdys duo from North Tonawanda were dethroned when the Pro-Am teams came into town to pre-fish the Wayne County tournament. The divisional leader was a 26 pound laker reeled in by Jason Stock of Poughquag, NY – 50 feet down over 120 feet of water on a Pro Troll flasher and fly. He was pre-fishing with Capt. Jim Dennis and his 33-foot Trojan “Black Jaw Bandit” west of his home port of Sodus off Pultneyville. “The fish took off like a king,” said Stock. “It took us over 20 minutes to bring the fish in.” And, yes, it was the biggest lake trout of his life.
For the clean sweep of the lifetime angling achievements for every first and second place winner in the LOC Summer Derby, Richard Bullen of Ilion, NY hauled in a 22 pound, seven ounce laker for second place while pre-fishing for the tournament. However, his tournament duty didn’t involve fishing – he was an observer for the main part of the tournament, Saturday and Sunday. But this was Friday and they were fishing another contest as a precursor to the Pro-Am, along with the LOC event. His team? Spoonfed, of course. Their bait of choice? A Northern King spoon. And it was Bullen’s lake trout best, as this year’s story goes.
It is certainly setting the stage for a very interesting Fall Derby, set for August 20 through September 6. For more information contact www.loc.org or call 888-REEL-2-IN. Fishing is Great in New York State!!
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Fishing Derby Dates:
Spring: Apr. 30 - May. 9, 2010
Fall: Aug. 20 - Sep. 6, 2010
Summer: Jun. 19 - Jul. 18, 2010
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