Pickford's Denny Rye Wins Last Chance Walleye Derby With 8.6-lb. Fish
By Amy Polk

Denny Rye of Pickford won the Last Chance Walleye Derby last weekend, with his 8.60-pound fish, pulled from Munuscong Bay near Pickford.

Denny Rye of Pickford won the Last Chance Walleye Derby on Munuscong Bay, hauling an 8.6- pound fish out of the bay and collecting the tournament's $400 grand prize.

He was congratulated by hearty applause at the awards ceremony at Dan's Cabins on the shores of the bay Sunday, February 24. Most anglers were hauling their shacks off the ice that day, one of the last fine days of walleye fishing available before the season closes March 1.

The weekend fishing tournament was blessed by sunshine and 30 degree temperatures that attracted more than 300 people to the bay for the event. By the end of the tournament, 208 adults and children had registered in the contest, and more than 200 fish were weighed. Organizer Tom Ball speculated Sunday he might have weighed 100 or more fish that day, had the contest continued another day. The Soo Area Sportsman's Club, which hosts the tournament, weighed 67 fish Friday, February 22, 110 fish Saturday, February 23, and 40 Sunday, before the noon end of the tournament. The average weight of fish reported by the club was 3.3 pounds.

Trevor Shaw of Pickford hoists the 1.20-pound walleye he caught Sunday, February 24, and weighed at the Last Chance Walleye Derby.

Pickford's Tim Leach followed Mr. Rye in second place, catching a 6.70-pound walleye to win $250. Sam Lightfoot of Barbeau took third place with a 6.60-pound walleye, to win $150. Ken Wilkie and Ben Hilts, both of the Raber/Goetzville areas, shared fourth place, each catching 6.30- pound walleye. They each received $100.

The final five places in the adult walleye contest won $25 prizes, including (in descending order) Buddy Weber of Sault Ste. Marie with a 5.85-pound walleye, Marshall Crisp of Pickford for his 5.65-pound fish, Henry Amarose of Hessel with a 5.35-pound fish, Jerry King of Sault Ste. Marie with a 5.30-pound fish, and Keith McDonald of Pickford for his 5.10-pound fish.

The club also awarded a "Dynamic Duo" award of $50 to Ramsey Michalski and Karen Bergeron of Pickford, for fishing persistence, since "they came out and fished every day," Carley Ball said.

Last Chance Walleye Derby coordinators (from left) Carley and Tom Ball weigh the Sunday morning catch brought in by Bob Massey of St. Ignace (right).

Two contests for children brought plenty of registrations in the walleye and perch divisions. All children who participated in the contest, even those who did not catch a fish, received lure packets donated by the Soo Area Sportsman's Club.

The youth winners, size of their fish, and prize amounts follow:

Youth Walleye Contest

First - Issac Brown, Pickford, 2.50 pounds, $50;

Second - Jacob Hatfield, Pickford and Rod Hesselink Jr. of Rudyard, each caught 2.45-pound fish, $45;

Third - Seth VanLuven, Pickford, 1.95 pounds, $15;

Fourth - Donevan Erueggman, Kinross, 1.80, $15,

Youth Perch Contest

First - Kyle Radle, Pickford, 1.15 pounds, $25;

Second - Bailey Stec, Pickford, 0.80 pound, $15;

Third - Aurora Kelly, Pickford, 0.75 pound, $10;

Fourth - Jacob Hatfield, Pickford, 0.70 pound, $10;

Fifth - Rod Hesselink, Rudyard, 0.50 pound, $10.