Anglers have left the ice as the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby's wrapped up for a 30th year.
Derby Chair Scott Popert says there was a lot of support for the derby, which sold out on Valentine's Day, weeks ahead of time.
Popert notes organizers will likely start work on next year’s derby after a short break, but advises anglers to watch for upcoming polls to help with planning, such as whether to continue with cash prizes or return to the item-based prizes.
With dozens of fish caught over the weekend, Wawa's Gilles Begin reeled in the largest of the derby - a 14.53-pound pike - to claim the $10,000 top prize for Wawa Lake, while a 7.87-pound pike from Kraig Coulter of Sault Ste. Marie topped the Hawk Lake results, earning him $10,000, as well.
Rounding out the top six for Wawa Lake: Kendra Roy of Wawa (11.81 lb pike); Cooper Moore of Wawa (10.14 lb lake trout); Rayanne Roberge of Wawa (9.51 lb lake trout); Joe Luoma of Sudbury (7.9 lb lake trout); and Tyrel Spooner of Sault Ste. Marie (7.44 lb lake trout).
Rounding out the top six for Hawk Lake: Ben Stubbington of Sault Ste. Marie (7.15 lb pike); Brent Snyder of Moran, Michigan (5.77 lb pike); Mike Guizetti of Echo Bay (5.43 lb lake trout); Lise Noel of Wawa (5.01 lb pike); and Erica Vanbuskirk of Chapleau (4.57 lb lake trout).
The 2nd place of each lake received $8000, 3rd place $7000, 4th place $3000, 5th place $2000, and 6th place $1000.
Other winners include Natalie Yeung of Timmins - who won the $30,000 registration prize draw - and the five Early Bird prize winners of $1000 each: William Matschke of Eganville, Carol-Anne Robinson of Wawa, Jessy DeChamplain of Dubreuilville, John Cannon of Wawa, and Jean-Paul St. Louis of Sault Ste. Marie.