To the Editor:

In response to ‘What Happened to Hammond Fishing Derby Money?” which appeared in the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 issue of North Country This Week: there was no wrong doing at the Fish Creek Bait & Tackle Ice Fishing Derby.

First of all the fee to enter was $5 for children and $15 for adults. The adult prizes were as follows: first place $500, second place $250 and third place $125. Most all ice fishing derbies rules are “must be present to win.” It might of not stated that on our flyer specifically but everyone that entered was told.

The wait time for prizes was a little longer than expected due to Tim Thomas from the NYS Winter Classic speaking about his event, giving out prizes and also fish getting weighed in last minute by Maxwell Patterson of Patterson’s Taxidermy.

Myself which was present for every fish that was weighed in that day again told every entrant you need to be present to win.

Also, Mary Vaisey’s entry was barely recognizable and no phone number listed, did not call my bait shop the next day to inquire who the winners were. She called my bait shop one week after the event in which I told her again, you must be present to win and all monies from the event leftover was donated to Pink fishing.

How did (Shawn) know he was next in line? As we didn’t announce every fish and weight that was entered? If this fish you caught was truly your personal record I would of personally waited as long as it took to see.

Joey Parker

Owner of Fish Creek Bait & Tackle, Hammond