From yesterday's Lockport US&J.....
OUTDOORS: Little Fish give Big Fish a run for the money
Sometimes, it’s the “little fish” who are hardest to catch.In this case, local adult fishermen have had to “catch” up to an 11-year-old Wolcottsville boy who reeled in a division-leading carp this week in the 2008 Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby. Justin Miller, 11, caught in a mammoth, 16.87-pound carp Thursday near the Carmen Road bridge in Gasport, a fish that gave the youth a brief lead in the division, as local anglers compete for a new fishing boat, motor and trailer as part of the 18th derby, which runs through July 20 between Albion and Tonawanda.
Miller, an Akron Middle School sixth grader who began fishing at the age of three with his grandfather, Charles Landow of Wolcottsville, said the key to catching fish is patience.“Let the fish come to you. Don’t force the fish on the hook,” Justin said.“When he first bit, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a big fish.’ ”It took Justin about 12 minutes to reel in the monster carp. Justin, who is in second in the catfish kids division with a 2.77 catch, won the kids bass division back in 2005. “When I saw the carp out of the water for the first time, I thought woo wee! A big fishee!” said Justin, who’s been competing in the derby since he was seven. “That’s the biggest thing I ever caught in the canal. It makes me proud that I led the whole division,” Justin added.
Justin’s lead in the adult carp division was short-lived, however, as Gasport’s Lee Hathaway turned in a 17.95 carp on Wednesday to retake the overall carp lead. Hathaway had the lead at the start with a 16.73-pound carp before Miller’s big catch on Wednesday. Hathaway, who fishes in the canal behind his Gasport home, was a good sport about temporarily losing the overall carp lead. “My daughter, Melinda has a first-place fish in the carp division and there are so many kids involved — I was happy for the little guy,” Hathaway said.“I was in first place in the derby for a day-and-a-half last year, then I got pushed back. There’s more than a week left in the derby left, so there’s still a lot of fishing left. I don’t think this one will hold up either. I’ll have to keep fishing.”
Hathaway’s nine-year-old daughter Melinda is a fourth grader at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School.“I get excited when I fish, especially when I get a bite. It’s a lot of fun,” she said.
Other Adult Division leaders are Lockport’s Greg Buchanan (catfish, 5.77), Shelby’s Justin Cook (bullhead, 1.50), former stand-out Wilson athlete Joel Feagin of Niagara Falls (bass, 4.15), Lockport’s Vincent Hackmer (sheephead, 11.20), Susan Huryn of Niagara Falls (pike, 4.00) and Medina’s Troy Bouter (walleye, 3.49).
Kids Division leaders are Lockport’s Robert Brott (catfish, 3.22), Melinda Hathaway of Wolcottsville (carp, 16.00), Medina’s Cody Newton (bullhead, .61), Gasport’s Luke Brauer (bass, 2.57), Kurt Griswald of Knowlesville (sheephead, 3.19), Lockport’s Thomas Vona (pike, 1.97) and Joshua Parker of Knowlesville (walleye, 1.57).
OUTDOORS: Little Fish give Big Fish a run for the money
Sometimes, it’s the “little fish” who are hardest to catch.In this case, local adult fishermen have had to “catch” up to an 11-year-old Wolcottsville boy who reeled in a division-leading carp this week in the 2008 Erie Barge Canal Fishing Derby. Justin Miller, 11, caught in a mammoth, 16.87-pound carp Thursday near the Carmen Road bridge in Gasport, a fish that gave the youth a brief lead in the division, as local anglers compete for a new fishing boat, motor and trailer as part of the 18th derby, which runs through July 20 between Albion and Tonawanda.
Miller, an Akron Middle School sixth grader who began fishing at the age of three with his grandfather, Charles Landow of Wolcottsville, said the key to catching fish is patience.“Let the fish come to you. Don’t force the fish on the hook,” Justin said.“When he first bit, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a big fish.’ ”It took Justin about 12 minutes to reel in the monster carp. Justin, who is in second in the catfish kids division with a 2.77 catch, won the kids bass division back in 2005. “When I saw the carp out of the water for the first time, I thought woo wee! A big fishee!” said Justin, who’s been competing in the derby since he was seven. “That’s the biggest thing I ever caught in the canal. It makes me proud that I led the whole division,” Justin added.
Justin’s lead in the adult carp division was short-lived, however, as Gasport’s Lee Hathaway turned in a 17.95 carp on Wednesday to retake the overall carp lead. Hathaway had the lead at the start with a 16.73-pound carp before Miller’s big catch on Wednesday. Hathaway, who fishes in the canal behind his Gasport home, was a good sport about temporarily losing the overall carp lead. “My daughter, Melinda has a first-place fish in the carp division and there are so many kids involved — I was happy for the little guy,” Hathaway said.“I was in first place in the derby for a day-and-a-half last year, then I got pushed back. There’s more than a week left in the derby left, so there’s still a lot of fishing left. I don’t think this one will hold up either. I’ll have to keep fishing.”
Hathaway’s nine-year-old daughter Melinda is a fourth grader at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School.“I get excited when I fish, especially when I get a bite. It’s a lot of fun,” she said.
Other Adult Division leaders are Lockport’s Greg Buchanan (catfish, 5.77), Shelby’s Justin Cook (bullhead, 1.50), former stand-out Wilson athlete Joel Feagin of Niagara Falls (bass, 4.15), Lockport’s Vincent Hackmer (sheephead, 11.20), Susan Huryn of Niagara Falls (pike, 4.00) and Medina’s Troy Bouter (walleye, 3.49).
Kids Division leaders are Lockport’s Robert Brott (catfish, 3.22), Melinda Hathaway of Wolcottsville (carp, 16.00), Medina’s Cody Newton (bullhead, .61), Gasport’s Luke Brauer (bass, 2.57), Kurt Griswald of Knowlesville (sheephead, 3.19), Lockport’s Thomas Vona (pike, 1.97) and Joshua Parker of Knowlesville (walleye, 1.57).
