Spring Valley Ice Fishing Derby

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  The Spring Valley Ice Fishing Derby will be held this year on Feb. 16th.  The event is free for kids and $3 for adults.  The derby is put on by the Moscow Parks and Recreation, UofI Studen Rec Association, and the Idaho Fish and Game.  It claims to be the largest ice fishing derby in the state of Idaho.  Prizes are awarded for each age class for the longest fish.
  This is a great time for the entire family; very kid friendly!  The only way I am involved in this tournament is that the UofI students found out that I had a gas auger so I kinda' had to volunteer to go out and drill about 100 holes last year before the start of the derby.
  Took my wife(her first time on the ice) and my four year old last year and they both had a blast.  All participants get a raffle ticket and there was enough prizes that most people won something.  They also had a small food concessions with burgers and such for a good price.  Equipment will be provided for people who need it and Fish and Game even puts on a small "how to ice fish" clinic before the derby starts.
  If anyone is interested and has questions, let me know and I will find the answer for you.

Hope to see you there,

Jim

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  The derby was Saturday and a great success, I would say.  I got there early and spent the next one hour and fifteen minutes non-stop drilling.  You see, people found out that I had a gas auger last year before the deby and recruited me to drill holes.
  Had my stuff all set up for the wife and son by the time they arrived to fish.  Both caught alot of rainbows, but they were running kinda' small.  Being a great husband, I bought my wife an early Valentine's Day gift; I new ice fishing combo rod.  Well, that coupled with a Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoon, tipped with waxies, got her the fish that won her the women's division for the second time in as many years.  Son's fish was bumped out of the top three in the last minute of the derby.  I didn't fish...  I spent the whole time baiting hooks, pointing out "bites" on rods, and taking fish off the hook.
  Weather was great!  Fifty degrees, sunny skies, and absolutely NO WATER on the 12" of ice.  150 people fished the derby and everyone looked like they caught fish.  I was really happy to hear that several people had never ice fished before that day.

Jim

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Oops!  Bad typing on my part, I think.  I posted the original soon as I heard they were having it again this year, but weeks before they made up any flyers.

Jim

[FshnAzn]

DakotaElkSlayer, have you been at the Spring Valley Derby in recent years?  Looking at making the trip up for my brother whose never been.  They tout as the largest ice fishing derby...on such a small reservoir that's only 300yds wide, is it pretty packed?

What else besides trout is in there?