by Theresa Taylor
I am presently fortifying myself for a journey to Blue Mountain Lake. I will be offering up chicken bones and perform a not so pretty dance in an effort to please the Ice Gods of The Adirondacks.
I have a few crazy friends who may accompany me thus we are leaving the date and time undisclosed.
I have already googled El Nino to see what his plans are for the end of January. I speak a little Spanish and thought possibly direct contact with the Wind Currents God could yield some good ice minus 25mph winds on January 30th. But alas El Nino has no Facebook account. Oh, wait—neither do I…
To all the sensible people who may have read this far and are pondering the question, “what the heck is she babbling about?” In the way back corners of your mind-of course!
It’s to see if this gets us to safe ice for our 16th Annual Mike Norris Ice Fishing Derby on Raquette Lake, presently set for Saturday, January 30th, 2016.
I say this because people have been in contact since January 1st asking if we are cancelling the event. Hmmmm.
Most locals know I wore out my crystal ball last April trying to find what day my car would begin thawing out to lose the extra 250 pounds of ice I had been carting around for most of the winter.
But, I’ll gladly review some conversations held at previous derby registrations–minus the seven nasty words you used to not be able to say on television.
Comments like: “It was 20 below when I made the turn in Blue Mountain!” “My battery was whining more about getting going than my wife this morning.” “I tried to wipe my runny nose on my glove and my glove stuck to my cheek, I was in the truck for 10 minutes before the glove thawed off my face.”
Wish us luck for safe ice and a nice winter temperature of above zero for the 6am registration time at the Raquette Lake fire hall.
It’s $20 for adults and $10 for those 16 and under.
Cash prizes are awarded after final weigh-in, which is at 3:30pm.
First place winners will get personalized plaques and there’s door prizes too! The public is welcome to attend–but look busy or we’ll put you to work.
The event is held with the assistance of Mike’s family and friends, Tioga Construction, The Raquette Lake Fish & Game Club, Burke’s Marina in Raquette Lake, Raquette Lake/Long Lake Parks & Recreation and The Hamilton County Federation of Sportsmen Groups Inc.