By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN— A great way to spend four hours on Saturday is ice fishing on Muskrat Lake in Cobden.
The 6th Annual Civitan and District Ice Fishing Derby takes place from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. followed by presentation of the top three prizes.
Chantelle Cartman, chair of the organizing committee, is thrilled with the response from the business community. There are over 50 door prizes plus more for the junior derby, she said. There are snowmobile helmets, coolers, winter jackets, ice fishing buckets, neck warmers, gift certificates, oil changes, and so much more.
“There’s just so much,” she said.
The cost to participate is $25, she said. To participate in the free junior derby, children have to be 12 years and younger and be accompanied by a paid participant.
While it’s best if tickets are purchased early, Ms. Cartman said tickets can be purchased the day of the derby. It’s best if people purchase early, because on the day of the event, people can just go and fish without having to go through registration.
She said people don’t have to fish, they can purchase $25 tickets just for the opportunity to win prizes.
Usually about 1,000 tickets are sold, and as of Tuesday afternoon, just under 400 have been sold, she said. However, the committee isn’t worried, because while all other fishing derbies and tournaments have been cancelled, this one hasn’t, so it’s expected there will be a lot of tickets purchased by the time the event begins Saturday morning.
The ticket provides you opportunity to fish and the opportunity to win one of the top three prizes — a boat and motor from Dick Plummer’s Marine in Pembroke; a Honda generator from Pete’s Sales and Service in Eganville and an ice auger from Gourlay’s Variety in Renfrew, as well as thousands of dollars in door prizes, she said. People don’t have to be there to win the top three, but for the door prizes they have to be collected that day, she said.
She noted Bob Izumi’s Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire donated first, second and third prizes, as well as other donations for door prizes from various businesses. The Police Association through Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire also donated $500 to the junior derby, Ms. Cartman said.
For those who want a hole drilled for them, the fee is $5, which goes to the Civitan club.
Ms. Cartman said the donations are appreciated.
“It’s just fantastic,” she said. “The Civitan club is such a big club and growing and they do a lot of good for the community.
“We thank everybody for contributing to make it a success,” she said. ”Without the people who help, including volunteers and those who supply prizes, it would never go.”
Ms. Cartman noted her father John Levesque started the club’s fishing derby years ago and she has taken it over from him, even though there were a few years when the derby didn’t run.
Ms. Cartman noted for those 18 and older, a fishing licence is required. “The ministry rules are followed,” she said.
The door prize draws are drawn around 11 a.m. and they can be picked up any time after that, she said. The top three prizes don’t have to be picked up the day of the derby, she said.
Ms. Cartman noted breakfast, which includes English muffins, egg McMuffins and Tim Horton’s coffee, as well as a barbecue lunch, are available for purchase.
Various vendor booths will also be set up in the boat launch area.
While there is a good amount of ice, at least 12 inches, Ms. Cartman said people are encouraged not to take vehicles on the ice.
“We tell everybody they drive their vehicle on the ice at their own risk,” she said. “We’ve done that in the past.
“We can’t stop people, it’s a public launch,” she said.
Ms. Cartman said all the proceeds from the event goes back into the community. Last year, money went towards research projects on Muskrat Lake.
Looking to the weather forecast, she said it’s going to be a great day for fishing.
“I’m kind of excited for Saturday,” she said. “When it’s a nice day, people like to fish.”
