Awards of derbies past

With the 36th Annual Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby set to take place this weekend, the Saratoga Sun decided to take a look through our archives. This year, the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce (SPVCC) will be offering $41,000 in total prize money including $2,000 for catching the largest fish during the two-day derby and three Trophy Trout that could be worth $35,000 combined. With the prizes in mind, the Sun saw fit to see what other prizes have been offered in the past starting with the very first year.

The Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby's inception was brought about by former SPVCC Director Chuck Box as a way to highlight one simple fact; just because it's winter doesn't mean the fishing stops being good. In 1983, the year of the first derby, the SPVCC tagged two Trophy Trout, named Bob and Steve. Bob was worth $25,000 if caught on the Saturday of the derby, and a lesser amount if caught on Friday or Sunday. Steve, meanwhile, was tagged for a 1982 Jeep CJ-5 from Zeiger Enterprises.

Unfortunately, neither of the prize fish were caught during the derby that year and the SPVCC extended the bounty until someone would catch the tagged trout.

In the 10th year of the derby, 1993, Teense Wilford was the SPVCC Director and changed things up a bit. Wanting to add to the excitement, Wilford changed the rules of the derby so that any tagged trout would put the fisherman who caught it in a reverse drawing for $5,000. Those who caught any other tagged fish would end up sharing a $1,000 jackpot.

Another 10 years passed and, in 2003, former SPVCC Director Kate Sherrod changed things up, again. Her changes, however, have stuck around for the past 16 years. Instead of having just one tagged trout worth $25,000, Sherrod changed the derby to include the biggest fish prizes that are currently in place; $2,000 for the biggest fish, $1,000 for the 2nd biggest fish and $500 for the 3rd biggest fish.

In its 30th year, 2013, current SPVCC Director Stacy Crimmins continued with the tried and true format that still brings plenty of fisherman to the Valley. Last year, Crimmins added yet another twist to the derby with the introduction of the Sucker Skirmish with a $500 prize for the person who catches the "Biggest Sucka."

While much has changed over the years when it comes to the ice fishing derby, the one thing that hasn't seemed to change at all is the people who still enjoy coming to the Platte Valley and have a good time on the ice.