Published: July 27, 2008 10:58 pm      

FISHING DERBY: Cook cleans up at awards ceremony

GASPORT — Justin Cook of Shelby and Jacolyn Schaffert of Lockport were the big winners in this year’s 18th Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby.

Cook claimed the Adult Division grand prize of a new fishing boat, motor and trailer at the annual derby awards ceremony Sunday at the Gasport Fire Hall. Schaffert won the Kids Division top prize — a new canal trail bike.

More than 150 people attended the awards ceremony, which honored adult and children’s winners in the 2008 derby, which concluded July 20 along the canal, between Tonawanda and Albion.

“With the economy so bad and gas prices the way they are, it was tough, but we pulled it off again,” said event founder and director, Steve Harrington while handing out prizes together with his wife, Lynn.

The seven adult division winners were Cook (bullhead, 1.50 pounds), Norman Schultz of North Tonawanda (carp, 22.53 pounds), Lynn Bensley of Albion (walleye, 5.28), Alonzo Maxwell of Lockport (bass, 4.55), Dale Benny of Wilson (catfish, 14.50), Steve Pallone of Ransomville (pike, 5.24) and Vincent Hackmer of Lockport (sheephead, 11.20).

Youth winners honored were Schaffert (bass, 2.78), Wade Sargent of Shelby (carp, 17.79), Dylan Bilicki of Newfane (walleye, 2.05), Tristan Torres of Albion (catfish, 5.30), Joshua Woods of Lockport (pike, 3.74), Joseph Hahn of Niagara Falls (sheephead, 6.96) and Cody Sikora of North Tonawanda (bullhead, 1.10).

Schultz’s story is a remarkable one because he only has one leg. He caught his winning fish at Gateway Park in Tonawanda, with a little help from his friend, Glenn Krull.

“The weigh station in Tonawanda was closed so we brought the fish to Les Allen’s in Lockport and had it weighed in there,” Schultz said.

Josh Woods of Lockport caught his winning pike in the canal by the Prospect Street bridge on the city’s West End.

“I like the derby. It’s nice for kids like me. I’ve been in the derby for the past eight years,” boasted the 11-year-old. “Everyone should try it. You never know. You might win.”

Other winners, like Joel Feagin of Niagara Falls, a former Wilson High School stand-out athlete, declined not to give the exact location of his winning catch in North Tonawanda for obvious reasons.

“I can’t give away all of my secrets,” he said. “The trick is live bait. There’s no substitute for live bait. If you want to catch a big fish, especially in deeper waters. It’s hard to get a lure down there.”

Harrington thanked his many sponsors, the derby’s official newspaper the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, and weigh stations, including the derby’s newest station, Jeddo Bait & Tackle, operated by Tom Kenward.

“Aside from the money the derby generates businesses like mine, it was great seeing so many families come in with their kids and the looks on their faces,” said Kenward, a Medina resident.

“The kids come walking in with a quarter-pound bullhead and they’re all excited. It was like that all day long throughout the derby. It was nice to see all the kids out there fishing.”

More than 1,000 people participated in the derby this year, Harrington said.

Four locals who caught tagged fish also received prizes.

Lockport’s Jeff Kinney caught the derby’s first tagged fish, which was sponsored by Darrell’s Place in Middleport. Lockport’s Haley Storms caught a tagged fish sponsored by DiNardo Company Flooring and two more tagged fish were caught by Angela Fasciano of North Tonawanda, sponsored by Sunrise Door; and Matt Snicales of Tonawanda, sponsored by Jacob Kern & Sons.

Harrington said the four tagged fish (out of 50 available) are the most ever caught in the derby’s history. The fish are tagged each year by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife.

Contact editor John D’Onofrio at 439-9222, ext. 6247.