Major Ice Fishing Tournament in Broome County is Called Off

The Almost Annual New York State Crappie Derby in Whitney Point is sunk, not by bad weather, but by good weather.

The ice at the reservoir isn’t thick enough for the ice fishing derby that draws thousands to the area and the February 18^th tournament has been called off.

The Whitney Point Sportsmens Association and Broome County Parks Department said the official ice thickness reading was seven inches on the west side of the lake and nine inches in the pond area, both below what would be safe for anglers and spectators. Officials said it was highly unlikely that the ice could be thick enough for the deadline February 13 to make the final decision on holding the derby.

The derby draws hundreds of anglers and even more spectators to the frozen Whitney Point Reservoir when the conditions are right, providing a winter boost to the local economy.

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