C-Falls youngster lands biggest pike

The 44th annual Lions Club Smith Lake Ice Fishing Derby held west of Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 27, attracted more than 400 anglers. Youngsters composed the biggest part of the crowd, as anglers landed hundreds of small pike and fewer numbers of perch on jigs tipped with maggots or smelt.

Alona Johnson, 5, of Columbia Falls, landed a 6-pound plus pike, the largest of the day. Jaylund Rammell caught the largest perch at 1.33 pounds.

Ty Crofts caught the smallest pike, at 0.37 pounds, and Kaylee Rammell caught the smallest perch at 0.5 pounds.

The event is put on by the Sunriser Lions Club as a public service to the community and as a way to make a modest amount of money to donate to family fishing pond programs. Anglers also donated some pike to the Hooked on Fishing program for dissection exercises.

“This is a great family event,” said Warren Illi of the Sunriser Lions Club. “We had a terrific turnout and decent weather. It was great to see so many kids catching fish.”