ST. PAUL – The St. Paul Fish and Game Association (SPFGA) is getting ready to host the Alphonse Tremblay Memorial Fish Derby on Feb. 20 as part of this year’s Shiver Fest.
The ice fishing event will be held at the St. Paul trout pond near the Iron Horse Campground staging area, located east of the St. Paul soccer fields.
“We encourage people to come out and enjoy the day, especially for those who want to give fishing a try for the first time,” says Dave Doonanco, with the SPFGA. He says a limited amount of fishing equipment will be available for people who want to give the activity a try but don’t have fishing gear.
The holes will also be pre-drilled for people, so “they don’t have to bring ice augers or any other equipment,” he explains. Bait will also be supplied.
There will be prizes for first, second, and third placers for participating youths and adults in the derby. While there will be a certain level of competition, organizers want to “keep it fairly simple, [and] we don’t want [the derby] to turn into something overly competitive.”
Prizes will include fishing rods and reels. Because the event takes place on Family Day, fishing licenses are not required to be held by participants.
During Family Fishing Weekends, Albertans and visitors to the province are encouraged to give fishing a try on waterbodies with open fishing seasons without having to purchase a sportfishing licence, according to the Government of Alberta.
Licenses are not required to ice fish in Alberta from Feb. 18-20, but are required throughout the rest of the winter season.
Ultimately, Doonanco says the purpose of the derby is for people - both experienced at the sport and those who would want to try it out for the first time - to “get out there and have fun.”
“We’ll have hot dogs, hot chocolate, or coffee for people that day,” as well as fire at the gazebo to warm up, says Doonanco.
For people wanting to come and check out the event, Doonanco says the only thing they need to do is show up. Participants “don’t have to register or call anybody – just come down.”
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
When asked if the event will be postponed if the temperature drops, Doonanco says the decision will be left up to the Town of St. Paul. Last year, “I think it was minus 30,” and the event was postponed for a week.
Alphonse Tremblay
The Alphonse Tremblay Memorial Fish Derby is named after a long-time member of the SPFGA. Tremblay initiated the Family Day fishing derby at the Town of St. Paul’s pond. The derby was renamed by the SPFGA upon Tremblay’s passing a few years ago, as a tribute.
Tremblay had been organizing the derby for about five years prior to his passing.
