Thousands endure -20 C to take part in annual Cobden Fishing Derby

Who says you can’t have fun outside when the temperature hovers between -15 to -20 C degrees?

It sure wasn’t the 1,532 fishing enthusiasts who, once again, came out in droves on Saturday February 5 and signed up for the annual Cobden Civitan Fishing Derby.

In addition to the 1,532 who registered for a chance to win one of the many prizes, there were an additional 106 children who spent the day ice-fishing at no cost.

The biggest winner of the day was Renfrew Hospice, however, when a certain Civitan had presented the non-profit agency a cheque in the amount of $10,000.

Longtime Cobden Civitan member and club president, John Cull, said the size and number of women and children taking part has increased almost every year since it started in 2010.

“This event just gets bigger and bigger every year but there is still plenty of room on Muskrat Lake for a few more,” Cull said. “One of the biggest changes we have seen over the years is the number of families coming out for the day and that means more women and children are here and that is terrific news.”

Cull explained it takes a lot of planning to stage the event and despite a bitterly cold wind that seemed to linger all day and made it feel closer to -30 C, more than 20 club members volunteered their time for the event.

“We have a few members who just physically cannot come out and spend up to four hours in that howling cold,” he said. “But we still had about 24 members help in everything from administration to shovelling to whatever was asked of them and nobody complained. In fact, of the close to 1,600 who were on the ice, I didn’t hear one complaint. I ask you, where else but here can you have that many people in that cold air and not lodge a single negative word. Makes me wish we had a derby every day.”

For the participants it is a chance to catch up with old friends, or make a family outing. Then there are the serious diehard participants vying for one of the cash prizes up for grabs.

In the end, nine adults walked away with a little extra cash in their pockets ranging from $100 to $300.

This year’s cash prize winners for the Longest Pike, Perch and Trout – 1st, 2nd and 3rd were Bill Pettigrew, Pat Deloughery, Dave Cartman, Dean Barrett, Mat Troutman, Al MacDonald, John Weisnberg, Brandan Chaput and Pat Fraser.

That cash does not include several other prizes taken home by participants — those ranged from a 14-foot aluminum fishing boat to a bbq to a portable fish hut. However, all eyes were on the 50/50 draw that finished the day with $18,178. Local Chris Godin was happy to find out he would soon be $9,084.

Cull said the derby is successful due to the event sponsors, the participants and the volunteers. He joked the weather is never a factor, unless it is too warm and even then, it is hard to find anyone who leaves the derby with a negative attitude.

“Must be something in the ice,” Cull said.