Forty-One Years of Fishing

In the 43 years since Chuck Box—then the CEO of the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce—started the Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby, there have only been two years the event was cancelled.

Both times were due to a lack of stock from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department treating the trout fishery.

It’s one of the few events which has been held regardless of weather or even when there’s areas of thin ice or open water.

“Obviously, in 41 years, there’s been a couple years where there’s been open water,” said Amanda Knotwell, current CEO of the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve also had years where there’s blizzards and white-outs and [Interstate] 80’s closed. We still have the derby.”

Safety is, of course, paramount for the chamber of commerce each year and this year will be no different.

“In the days leading to [the derby], if we have open water we will use caution and put out markers and mark those areas off,” said Knotwell.

With winter finally arriving with snow and sub-zero temperatures—low temperatures of six degrees below zero and 10 degrees below zero are expected on Saturday and Sunday, respectively—Knotwell hopes there will be a chill to the concerns over the safety of the ice for the derby.

“I’ve had people out on the ice, I’ve had huts out on the ice,” said Knotwell.

While there may be a concern regarding ice thickness this year, a perennial concern before each ice fishing derby is the quality of fishing. Following the most recent lake treatment in 2022, which was held in response to illegally introduced yellow perch, Saratoga Lake was restocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Tiger Trout of varying maturity. Since then, said Knotwell, the fishing has been great.

“In the last couple of weeks I’ve had some people out on the lake already and they’re catching them like crazy. January 3, I had a group come in [and] I know they caught over 20 in six hours worth of fishing,” said Knotwell. “All the reports I’m getting is that people are catching them.”

While the yellow perch have been, by all accounts, removed from the lake there’s one nuisance fish which has returned: the suckermouth catfish, or the sucker.

“My son and I went out and netted in September with Game and Fish and the suckers were already 12 or 14 inches,” said Knotwell.

The return of the suckers means the return of the Sucker Skirmish. This competition, which was added to the derby in 2018, awards cash prizes for the largest suckers and the most suckers caught each day of the derby.

Along with the Sucker Skirmish, the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce will also be giving out awards for Best Fishing Story and Best Fishing Hut. According to Knotwell, even in the era where people can buy pop-up huts rather than making their own, derby attendees still find a way to be creative.

“Every year there’s always at least one or two unique huts. Last year was really fun, we had a gentleman—his wasn’t decorated on the outside, he had decorated the inside—he had a whole beach scene he had put up. Last year was perfect conditions,” said Knotwell. ‘That group, they had their Hawaiin shirts on and were taking fun pictures.”

The Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby is the oldest, and one of the longest running, events in Wyoming. For more than four decades, locals and visitors alike have descended on the ice to compete. According to Knotwell, there is a very good reason this winter event has remained so successful.

“I believe it has lasted for so long because we stay true to our word: here’s our prizes, here’s what we offer. We follow through with what we advertise,” said Knotwell. “Deep down, everyone wants to catch that $20,000 fish.”

Each year, the chamber of commerce tags three Trophy Trout which—if caught during the derby—could mean a prize of $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000. The chamber also awards cash prizes for first, second and third place based on the largest trout caught with measurements being a combination of width and girth of the trout. First place is $2,000, second place is $1,000 and third place is $500. A Bounty Fish, a trout with a pink tag behind its dorsal fin, can also mean $500 for the first person to bring one to the Official Derby Tent during the derby..

Finally, while attendees can bring their own food and beverages—either alcoholic or non-alcoholic—there will be two chamber-member businesses providing concessions at the fishing derby. Selena’s Eats and Treats, out of Rawlins, will be at Saratoga Lake both days. Lazy River Cantina 2.0, meanwhile, will be providing hot toddies and green chili on Sunday.