Published: August 03, 2009 11:20 pm      

FISHING: 2009 Canal Derby prizes awarded

Canal Fishing Derby winners picked up their prizes at the annual banquet in Gasport.

GASPORT — Newfane’s Richard Thering III earned a new fishing boat and trailer as the grand prize winner of the 19th Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby.

Thering III and more than a dozen other Adult Division and Kids Division prize winners were honored at the annual derby banquet, which was held last week at the Gasport Fire Hall.

Thering III placed first in the Adult Catfish Division, hauling in a derby-best 11.51-pound fish. Thering’s name and the other Adult Division winners’ names were placed in a hat and the grand prize winner’s name was drawn at the banquet.

Thering earned a new fishing boat and trailer, courtesy of Bryce Marina of Rochester. Winning a new canal trail bike as the Kids Division grand prize winner was North Tonawanda’s Brandon Jeeves.

Other Adult Division winners were also honored at the banquet. They are Lockport’s Aaron Woods (carp, 23.34), Alan Berner (sheephead, 11.42) and Joseph Brown III (bullhead, 1.51); Middleport’s Josh Quackenbush (walleye, 6.01), North Tonawanda’s Steve Carnduff (bass, 5.47) and Medina’s C.J. Kenward (Northern Pike, 5.86).

Adult Division runners-up were as follows: carp-Charles Young of North Tonawanda (20.62) and Gasport’s Lee Hathaway (19.39); walleye-Medina’s Chris Foss (5.55) and Barker’s Conner Grissett (4.69); bass-Lockport’s David Myers (4.85) and Sidney McDowell (3.85); catfish-David Busenlehner of Niagara Falls (11.11) and North Tonawanda’s Mike Russell Sr. (7.02); Northern Pike-Lockport’s Bill Santana (5.53) and James Stanton (5.47); sheephead-Joey Hahn of Niagara Falls (10.96) and Lockport’s Vince Hackmer (9.76); and bullhead-North Tonawanda’s Mike Russell Jr. (1.29) and Gina Hahn of Niagara Falls (1.14).

Meanwhile, Jeeves’ name was drawn among Kids Division winners for the new bike. Jeeves caught an 18.88-pound carp for first place in that Kids Division. Other Kids Division winners honored at the banquet were Ransomville’s Trevor Zanow (bullhead), Medina’s Justin Ottaviano (catfish), Lockport’s Chris Bogar-Lopez (walleye), Tonawanda’s Ian Mott (sheephead), Gasport’s Rianna Frombgen (Northern Pike) and Sahara Lester of Niagara Falls (bass).

In all, five tagged fish were also caught during the derby, according to event founder and director Steve Harrington of Gasport. They are Russell Tokotch, sponsored by Al Brown Plumbing; Debbie Olaf, sponsored by Frames by Ames; Jason Echlin, sponsored by Canalside Inn; Tyler Santiago, sponsored by Oak Orchards Cement; and Colin Campbell, sponsored by Confer Plastic.

“More than 100 families signed up for the derby this year with a total of almost 1,300 participants,” Harrington said.

“Out of the seven divisions, six of the divisions had catches that were heavier than last year. I’ve seen some big fish this year and a lot more boat fishing.”

Next year’s 20th derby is tentatively scheduled for July.