The eighth annual Highway 24 Ice Fishing Derby on Sheridan Lake has been rescheduled.
Irene Melili, chair of the Fishing Highway 24 Tourist Association, said the board made the decision last week to move the derby from Jan. 27 to Feb. 24 due to the warm weather the South Cariboo has experienced this winter. Meili said the ice conditions on Sheridan Lake are too unpredictable to host the event at the end of the month.
“The ice layer across Sheridan Lake, and many other lakes in our area, is still too thin to be safe,” Meili said. “The weather forecast calls for colder temperatures, but we’d like to see that before we believe it.”
Rather than risk having to cancel the event, Meili said the board chose to delay it and wait for more favourable conditions. This delay also means that when tickets go on sale attendees will be able to plan accordingly.
Meili said that ice safety is absolutely key whenever they organize the derby. As a fully insured event, they make sure to drill test holes before attendees go out on the ice to check its thickness and stability.
“Ice fishing derbies are typical group or family events, and you’re likely to have groups of people with several snowmobiles or quads as well as fishing tents with heaters and other fishing equipment on a relatively small area,” Meili said. “The load per area of ice will therefore be higher than for normal ice fishing.”
This delay will also give local accommodations and businesses more time to advertise for the event. Meili noted that winter booking numbers for January and February are down this year for resorts along Highway 24, likely due to the lack of snow and ice, until recently, that typically attracts people to the South Cariboo for a winter vacation.
Other than the change of month, the Highway 24 Ice Fishing Derby will still take place at the Sheridan Lake Resort beginning at 7 a.m. The weigh-in station will be set up at the resort with the final weigh-in taking place at 2 p.m. Prizes are given out for the heaviest fish with winners taking home ice fishing equipment, winter clothes and gift cards for local businesses.
Meili said tickets will be available at Lone Butte Sporting Goods, Screamin’ Reel, Donex Pharmacy and Department Store, the Country Pedlar, Interlakes Rona and the Interlakes Market with tickets going for $10 for adults and $5 for children aged six to 16. She said they plan to have the tickets out in the community by mid-January. They’ll also be available to purchase on derby day at the Sheridan Lake Resort.
“Outdoor events require the organizers as well as the participants to be flexible and adjust to conditions,” Meili said. “With the late ice fishing season start we’re expecting a good crowd that’s eager to catch “big Walter”.
