With frigid temperatures expected beginning Friday, struggling to see double digits, the New York State Crappie Derby is almost a sure thing for this Valentine's Day in Whitney Point.  The current ice thickness is about 12 inches. The Crappie Derby is always the perfect cure for cabin fever in the middle of a Southern Tier winter.

You don't have to be a fisherman to enjoy the Crappie Derby.  I like to go to to experience the peace and excitement of a great morning out on the river's edge.  The Crappie Derby outside of Whitney Point's Dorchester Park is the perfect family-friendly event, something I bet your kids will never forget.

As for the fish, the White Crappie is strongly dominant in the Whitney Point Lake. Very few Black Crappie are taken in this body of water. In the Whitney Point Lake, there is a minimum size limit and a creel limit in place.

According to the official web site, here's what you can expect to see if you go Saturday morning:

- The National Weather Service (including a Real Time Weather Station providing instantaneous weather information such as temperature, wind velocity and wind chill).
- EMTs will be available with a sheltered area.
- The Ross Park Zoo will have an exhibit of species appropriate to the weather.
- The 4H Education Center at Finch Hollow will be on-hand with displays and to answer questions.
- Gander Mountain of Johnson City will display and demonstrate the latest state-of-the-art equipment for the ice fisherman. Gander Mountain staff will also be available for tips and advice on the sport of ice fishing.
The Broome County Underwater Dive Team will be on hand to demonstrate their winter water rescue techniques.
- The Amigo Search & Rescue K9 group from Oneonta will have some of their trained canine troops.
- The Whitney Point Rotary Club will provide a good skating area along with FREE loaner skates for anyone interested in giving this a try.
The derby is still working on other possible displays and entertainment to make the event more interesting for the non-anglers. See the derby website for more details. Come early and visit the First Baptist Church on Rte 11 in Whitney Point for a great buffet style Pancake Breakfast starting at 5:00 AM (till 9:00 AM).

The derby hours are from 8 AM to 3 PM. At 3 PM, prizes will be awarded for the biggest crappie (1st, 2nd and 3rd), the biggest fish of a number of fish species. Prizes are awarded every fifteen minutes for the largest crappie caught during that period. This encourages a steady flow of fish to the judges throughout the day. Other significant raffles and door prizes will take place during the event.

 

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