Stan Schafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby Results

Jan 21, 2025
4 min read

Submitted by: Mel Rice, Public Relations

The 39th annual “Stan Shafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby” was held at Clark Canyon Reservoir Sunday, January 19th. The event, sponsored by the Beaverhead Search and Rescue, started at 7:00 AM and had around 350+ enthusiastic participants who braved the balmy 10 degree weather. The morning was beautiful with no wind. Can’t say it stayed that way all day! Even though the weather changed, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those trying to bring in the big money fish. It took a little time for the first fish to show up for weighing but after that, things were fairly steady with both ling and trout getting weighed in hopes of getting in one of the four money slots.

Ticket sales this year were up considerably from last year. Everyone purchasing tickets, whether participating on the ice or not, had their ticket stubs in the barrel for the drawing of the 200+ door prizes. There were 4 drawings this year for the 50/50 pots, three winners received $250.00 and one received $140.00. The lucky ticket holders were yellow tickets 581307 and 581520, red ticket 329129, and a white ticket 553088.

The winners of this year’s trout and ling competitions are:

Adult Trout:

1st Place-Steven Heavren, Belgrade, 4 lb. 15.5 oz.------$400.00
2nd Place-Eldon Wheekly, Dillon, 4 lb. 9 oz.------$200.00
3rd Place-Noah Rovente, Lopez Island, Washington, 4 lb. 7.2 oz.------$100.00
4th Place-Chrystal White, Glen, 4 lb. 4.4 oz.------$50.00

Adult Ling:

1st Place-Kenneth Van Vallis, Missoula, 5 lb. 3.2 oz.------$400.00
2nd Place-Joseph Lema, Dillon, 4 lb. 13.0 oz.------$200.00
3rd Place-Brian Porter, Butte, 4 lb. 2.6 oz.------$100.00
4th Place-Samson Marshall, Bozeman, 4 lb. 0.8 oz.------$50.00

Kids Trout:

1st Place-Kenny Holland, Twin Bridges, MT, 3 lb. 8.9 oz.------$75.00
2nd Place-Jaycee Johnson, Dillon, MT, 3 lb. 6.3 oz.------$50.00
3rd Place (Tie) Baylee White, Glen, MT, and Colter Rabin, Twin Bridges, Mt, 3 lb. 4.3 oz ------$12.50 each

Kids Ling: (only 1 fish turned in)

1st Place-Avery McCarthy, Dillon, MT, 2 lb. 13.1 oz.------$75.00

All in all, the derby was another great success. On behalf of your Beaverhead Search and Rescue, thank you! Tara Remely, the derby chairperson, would like to thank everyone; fisherpersons, ticket buyers, and especially those merchants for their generous donations to our door prize give-aways and helping with ticket sales. Please stop by those merchants who donated and thank them, especially those of you who were fortunate enough to win one of those prizes. If you weren’t present or left early and won a door prize, you will be notified of your winning and how to pick it up. Please check out the “Thank You” ad for the merchants’ list and merchandise given.

Thanks to the following S&R members for helping set up and working the derby: Tara Remely (derby chairperson), Tommy Goins, Jason Erickson, Mel Rice, Steve Mock, Kolby Malesich, Chuck Maddox, Brad Wagner, Russ Sigman, Alan Holt, Gayle Rawson, Ray Gross, Trent Cottom, Jack Bazemore, Charles Weidow, David Broadhead, John Anthony Grant, Joshua Yeadon, Keri Carson, Lance Hopman, Adam Norlander, Charles Wharton, Dusty Crowe, and James Matthews. “In the Business of Saving Lives”, your Beaverhead SAR unit.

Thank You

Your Beaverhead Search and Rescue would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations to our 39 th annual ice fishing derby. Your generosity greatly helps our event be the success it is. Hats off to each and every one of you.