Ice fishing derby reels in $3,000 for Zearing emergency services
Zearing Fire and EMS departments raised $3,000 for training and equipment at its annual ice fish derby at Dakins Lake.
Piercing blue skies and more than 12 inches of ice greeted the 175 derby participants on Saturday. They competed for more than $2,000 in prizes, including cash, during the eighth annual catch-and-release event.
Event coordinator and volunteer firefighter Dave Skinner said the department wants to buy an automated external defibrillator for the Dakins Community Center in Zearing. An AED was used to save the life of Buffalo Bills' safety Damar Hamlin this year after he was hit in the chest during a game.
Some very big fish were pulled from the lake Saturday with the adult overall first place going to Mike Haskney who caught a 23.75-inch channel catfish. In second and third place was Ed Estrella, who caught a 19.25-inch channel catfish, and Mike Cherveny, who caught a 14.5-inch large mouth bass.
The first place youth catch was Kirzlee Peterson, who pulled in a 14.5-inch large mouth bass. Connor Finch caught a 13.75-inch large mouth bass and J.D. Night a 13.25-inch large mouth bass.
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Located just north of Zearing in northeast Story County, Dakins Lake, 70613 130th St., is managed by Story County Conservation and includes remnant and restored prairie, timber, trails and 20 acres of open water in two lakes.
The lakes are stocked with large mouth bass, small mouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, perch and walleye. Amenities for warm weather fishing include jetties and a fish cleaning station. Only electric trolling motors are allowed.
The 103-acre park offers hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, bird watching, geocaching and a natural playscape.
Zearing, population 539, has a reputation of holding successful events to help pay for community based projects. A week before this year's ice fishing derby, the community fire and EMS departments held a barbecue dinner that brought in about $6,000. Last year the ice fishing derby helped pay for a LUCAS chest compression device.
In the past eight years, the fishing derby has raised more than $25,000 in total for emergency services training, gear and a new scoreboard for the Zearing Little League baseball field.
Skinner said the Zearing fire department has applied for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through FEMA for $145,000. The grant requires a 10% local match. If the grant is successful, the department will invest in self-contained breathing apparatus equipment and other upgrades to their gear.
Skinner said planning is already underway for next year's ice fishing derby which is the second Saturday in February from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dakins Lake.
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This year's event was a big success thanks to more than 50 "generous sponsors" including Hy-Vee, Burke Corp. and Fareway, Skinner said.
Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowa for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ice fishing derby raises $3,000 for Zearing fire and EMS departments
