Will There Be A Crappie Derby?

1/25/2013 (Updated 11:00:55 PM)

Because of recent warm winters, the annual Crappie Derby has come to be described as semi-annual.  Now, fingers are crossed again. 
 
Originally scheduled for this weekend, the event is postponed until February 9th. The lake has seven inches of ice on it right now, but a foot of ice is required to safely support the expected 2-3,000 attendees.

Last year the event was cancelled due to mild weather. Founder David Hughes says he is hopeful that more ice accumulates.

"The point of the day is to get people outdoors and have some fun, particularly the kids.  It's a nice fishing event, yes.  Do you have to ice fish, no.  Do you like to skate?  We're going to have a skating rink out there," said David Hughes, Event Coordinator.

Hughes says officials from Broome County Parks will evaluate the ice on February 4th and determine then if the the Crappie Derby is a go.