Rotary Derby looking better?

[Skip]

From today's on-line edition of the Laconia based Citizen. Optimism is abounding amongst derby officials with the recent cold snap.

You can read about it HERE!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

[HomeWood]

Thanks a lot for the article Skip. I am leaving NC on the 2nd of Feb and not returning until the 20th. I won't get to siked just yet, but I feel better now than I did a week ago.

[fatlazyless]

As you probably noticed, the temp was up one degree today from 34 to 35 on the water temp page of this website.

Someone was able to slice through the solid ice from the Cattle Landing dock directly across the passage way, maybe 200 yards, to Bear Island with a 12' aluminum row boat w/ a 10hp outboard. The little light weight boat cut through the solid ice like a hot knife through butter.

That takes a gung-ho attitude. I'd be concerned about flipping the boat or puncturing the thin aluminum hull, but who knows, maybe it was easy due to the weak ice?

[HomeWood]

Any word Donnamatrix? What's the latest talk around the Rotary?

[RGA645]

This years derby has a new requirement, all participants must have USCG approved life jacket.

[HomeWood]

Do you have to wear it or have it close by?

BUt seriously, I may just have one with me.........

[donnamatrix]

A final decision for the Derby won't be made until next week, but clearly, everything is looking great right now with the cold weather. Not just for the Derby, but for snowmaking for skiing, ice skating, etc. Yesterday, a bob house was installed on Meredith Bay, there are a couple on 19 Mile Bay, and other bob houses are popping up on Winni and the other lakes. The long range forecast shows temperatures at 32 degrees and below for the next 10 days minimum, so we're feeling pretty positive right now and getting excited about the Derby. It's funny, I went through the ice as a child when ice skating in MA, so I NEVER go out on the ice, even when I see Ford F-350s out in 19 Mile Bay ... can't understand the lure of ice fishing!!

[WakeUp]

Donnamatrix - Love to hear the positive attitude. However, I'm slightly confused with the "we're feeling pretty positive right now and getting excited about the Derby" comment. Sounds like you're a diehard lover of ice fishing...BUT you end your reply with "can't understand the lure of ice fishing!!" ??

Are you involved in the organizing of the event? (just curious)

[donnamatrix]

Hi

I am a member of the Meredith Rotary. All of the members are very involved in the Derby, as with other charity events and fund raisers. I truly love to fish, but mostly on the back of our boat in the warmer weather! The only ice I feel safe being on is on an ice-rink!!

[66WINN]

Saw this while checking out the weather.

http://www.boston.com/partners/world...ontinuous=true

NECN weather forecast (not sure the link works)

Talks about the Weirs Cam and the Rotary Derby. Nice shot of the lake from the cam.

[trfour]

Pretty neat 66WINN,
I just watched it. I'll give that link a try.

http://www.boston.com/partners/world...ontinuous=true

Thanks.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by donnamatrix

Hi

I am a member of the Meredith Rotary. All of the members are very involved in the Derby, as with other charity events and fund raisers. I truly love to fish, but mostly on the back of our boat in the warmer weather! The only ice I feel safe being on is on an ice-rink!!

Somehow, there is probably a joke about ice fishing at an ice rink, but some things are better left unsaid (what's that dear????? quit while I'm what??? ok, dear...)

[Mink Islander]

Now here's a thought.....

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Somehow, there is probably a joke about ice fishing at an ice rink, but some things are better left unsaid (what's that dear????? quit while I'm what??? ok, dear...)

http://www.danerd.com/media/1929_ice...k+%20announcer

[upthesaukee]

See, i knew it was there somewhere. Trouble is I hear the same voice saying all sorts of different things...

Thanks for sharing with us.

[donnamatrix]

Hi Y'all

The 2007 Meredith Rotary Great Fishing Derby is ON for the weekend of February 10. A local photographer took a photo of The Broads on 1/30, showing significant ice across the Lake. Although I sincerely doubt anybody goes fishing out in the middle of The Broads!!! There are many bob houses on many lakes right now and the cold weather is slated to continue.

Gov. Lynch will be making a proclamation related to the Derby next week.

If you haven't yet purchased your Derby ticket, you can go to www.meredithrotary.org for instructions, or buy your ticket at a number of shops (listed on the www.meredithrotary.org website), or come to the Meredith Rotary Derby Trailer, which will be set up next to the Meredith Docks, by the boat ramp. Ticket sales at the trailer begin Friday, February 9 from 8am to midnight. Saturday ticket sales at the trailer will be from 5am to 12:00pm for prizes. Any tickets sold after 12pm on Saturday will not be considered for the “big” prizes, only the hourly drawings for $100 cash prizes. For other information call the Meredith Rotary Club at 603-279-7600.

Also, remember the FREE Fishing Derby Ice Fishing Panel Discussion on Friday night, February 9 at the Mill Falls from 7pm to 9pm. This is a first-come, first-served type of seminar with seating for 60. There will be door prizes and lots of fun! You can find information about this on the www.meredithrotary.org website by clicking the button “Hot Tips for Ice Fishing”

Good luck to everyone!

[Mink Islander]

Oh indeed they do fish out in the middle of the broads. I've seen a row of trucks parked side by side and and a handful of bobhouses far far out into the broads in prior years. If you look at the Broadview cam, you'll see one bobhouse pretty far out there already.

Feels like a "typical" winter right now. Hooray for the coming snow. Hoping to maybe drop in on the Fishing program at Mill Falls on Friday night too. What a great addition to the Derby.

[BoulderBronco]

Anyone got any reports for me from Meredith bay? Wondering if there are any trucks out there and what the ice thickness is in various areas? I put my bob house out about halfway down the bay.

[donnamatrix]

My office overlooks Meredith Bay, and I don't see any trucks out there as yet, although the ice boaters are all over the place. I don't know what the thickness is supposed to be to support a truck. I would contact NH Fish & Game and ask them what they think. The thought of driving a truck out onto ice makes me say EEEEK!