Josh Curtin with his son Dominic holding the winning basLast Saturday (June 5, 2022) was a great day to be at the Onota Lake Frank Controy Pavilion. That’s where the Jimmy Fund Derby took place. According to organizer, Steve Bateman, it was the largest Jimmy Fund Derby that they have ever put on.
Here, let Steve tell you about it:
“The derby was a huge success with over 355 people in attendance, 300 of them registered fisherman. Over 60 fishing poles were given out to children and some adults not including the trophy prizes. 30 of the fishing poles were given out in the memory of Danny Pero.
We had many new children who had never fished before, with some tickets being purchased by Tony Jackson’s Westside Legends group members giving several children and a parent the opportunity to fish this event. Brian, John and Chuck from the Western Mass Crippled Old Busted Bikers Group spent time teaching many new young anglers how to fish (which) was a great experience for all.
The highlight of the day was the winner of a special door prize for adults ages 15 and 16 years old. Since these young adults missed out in the children’s category 2020 and 2021, which were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, we wanted to do something special over the top. We gave out a Pelican fishing kayak, oar, life vest and tackle bag. This was provided by our good friend Joshua Christman of Christman Charters. Josh also puts on Carp Palooza event which is highly endorsed by the Harry Bateman Fishing Derby Committee and which will be held on June 25 at Pontoosuc Lake. It’s a great time. This prize was given in the memory of Betty Jean Bateman, Harry Bateman’s wife and Co- Chair of the Harry Bateman Fishing Derby Committee. Betty passed away in July of 2021. RJ Albano was the winner. The smile on his face said it all.
Amazing trophies by Jones Trophies were donated by Steve Ray of Berkshire Real Estate Associates.
There was plenty of food pr
ovided by Craig Benoit of the Hot Dog Ranch, Sysco Co., Integrity Distributors, Market 32 and Freihofer Bakery. Beverages were provided by Gildo’s Autobody and Don Davis Heating and Cooling.
Hundreds of dollars in raffle prizes were given out. Funds for all of the amazing prizes are donated by friends of the Committee. Our goal is always 200 attendants and to raise $5000 for the Jimmy fund. (This year) we had over 300 people and raised over $10,000 – a record.
Sorry, no group pictures were taken due to Covid.”
The derby event winners were:
CHILDREN HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY
1ST. PLACE: AUSTIN SAYERS – LARGEMOUTH BASS- 2 LBS. 6 OZ.
2ND. PLACE: KOLTON BUCK – LARGEMOUTH BASS- 2 LBS. 2 OZ.
3RD. PLACE: BRYER FARRELL – RAINBOW TROUT – 1 LBS. 13 0Z
CHILDREN HEAVIEST NON-GAME FISH CATEGORY
1ST. PLACE: RAYCHELLE ERRICHETTO – ROCK BASS- 14 OZ.
2ND. PLACE: CHLOE SHATTEWORTH – ROCK BASS -10 OZ.
3RD. JACOB LANGLIS – ROCK BASS – 7 OZ.
ADULT HEAVIEST GAME FISH CATEGORY
1ST. PLACE: JORDEN PASQUARELLI- CHAIN PICKEREL- 3 LBS. 8 OZ.
2ND. PLACE: SCOTT LOVELLETTE- LARGEMOUTH BASS – 3 LBS. 8OZ.
3RD. PLACE: TIM LAMBERT – BROWN TROUT- 3LBS. 5 OZ
SPECIAL HEAVIEST FISH 1ST. PLACE AWARDS
BASS: DOMINIC CURTIN -LARGEMOUTH BASS – 3 LBS. 15 OZ. -CHILD
PERCH/CRAPPIE: ROY HARVENDER– CRAPPIE – 1 LBS 2 OZ.
CARP: MATT CLARK – COMMON CARP- 8LBS. 14 OZ.
TROUT ADULT: JAMES LAMBERT – BROWN TROUT 6 LBS. 4 OZ.(Wow!!)
CHILDREN TROUT GABREIELLE CHRISTMAN BROWN TROUT 2 LBS. 7 OZ.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: BRICE TRENT RAFFLE
1ST. PLACE: GAS GENERATOR- RUBY TRENT
2ND. PLACE: 40” TV RAYMOND WESTERMAN
3RD. PLACE: $100 LOTTERY TREE- DAVID SHEETS
Space doesn’t allow me to get into all of the fantastic raffled items, but I will say this; at least 6 beautiful bikes were raffled out by age category.
As Steve pointed out, a great event like this doesn’t just happen. He had a lot of helpers and supporters, not the least being his wife Sheri.
No, I didn’t win any of the raffle prizes, but I went home a much richer man having been there to experience this event.
Lee Sportsmen’s Association Higher Education Scholarship awarded to Brianna Kelly
The Lee Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors and LSA Youth Programs congratulate Lee High School class of 2022 graduate and LSA Member Brianna Kelly, who was awarded the LSA Higher Education Scholarship at the Membership Meeting on June 1st. This is a one-time award in the amount of $500 to youth who have been members of LSA for at least two years and have participated in LSA Youth Programs activities for at least one season, such as youth teams (LSA Buckshots Jr. Shotgun, High Caliber Jr. Pistol, Air2Spare Jr. Air Pistol, or Archery) or youth hunts. It is offered to graduating high school senior students who have been accepted into some type of higher education institution, such as a four-year college, two-year college, trade school, technical school, or prep school. The available dollar amount and number of scholarships awarded is determined annually by the amount of funds available in the LSA Youth Programs account.
Brianna will be attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall to study Wildlife Biology and Conservation, a passion she discovered during her time spent and experiences at the Club. Brianna has been an active member of the Fish, Game, and Pheasants Committee alongside her parents, Mike and Beth, helping raise, care for, and stock the pheasants and fish at LSA. She has also participated in numerous fishing derbies, youth pheasant and turkey hunts with LSA, and hopes to continue helping out in this area as an adult volunteer stating, “For me, these youth hunts helped me grow as a person and sportswoman,” and she would like to share these experiences with others. However, it was her time spent at the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp last summer as an LSA campership recipient that helped solidify her future path. “I will never regret going (to MJCC), because I was able to finally figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I learned so much and gained so much experience and knowledge,” she describes. We wish Brianna much success in all her future endeavors and congratulations to the Class of 2022.
Public Hearing for proposed hunting regulation changes
A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 3 p.m. at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough) on proposed regulatory amendments to 321 CMR 3.00 Hunting; specifically, regulations relating to pheasant, quail, and small game hunting.
The proposed regulations would:
- Create a late pheasant and quail season so hunters can pursue any previously stocked unharvested birds through December 31.
- Expand hunting hours on stocked WMAs. Hunting hours would remain sunrise to sunset while hunting pheasant, but would be expanded for other species. For example, archery deer hunters could now hunt from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset on WMAs stocked with pheasant.
- Standardize hunting hours for pheasant and quail to sunrise to sunset statewide.
- Remove WMA hunting implement restrictions and standardize implements (shotgun and archery) for pheasant and quail. For example, bear and coyote hunters would now be permitted to use any legal hunting implement, including rifles, on WMAs stocked with pheasants. Hunters would now only be able to use shotgun and archery equipment while hunting for pheasants statewide.
- Simplify and expand the hare, cottontail, and gray squirrel seasons. Hare, cottontail, and gray squirrel hunting seasons would be extended through the end of February in a single statewide season for each species.
- Remove the black-tailed jackrabbit season. MassWildlife staff believes the species is extirpated.
The full hearing notice, including the text of the proposed regulations, is available on MassWildlife’s Public Hearings page. Written comments will be accepted until July 6, 2022 at 5 p.m. To submit written comments, please email susan.sacco@mass.gov to the attention of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or mail comments to Chairman, Fisheries and Wildlife Board, c/o Director of MassWildlife, Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.