Ippi’s ice fishing derby draws big Lynn crowd

LYNN – Eighty-seven anglers and dozens of spectators crowded the frozen surface of Sluice Pond for the annual Ippi’s Super Bowl Ice Derby Feb. 7.The sunny, blustery day brought out children as well who skated from angler to angler to check on the progress of the catch.Ippi’s Bait & Tackle of Lynn, 5 Parkland Ave., owned by Laura Ippoliti, sponsors the derby and uses the entry fees to restock the pond and present awards. After taking 10 percent for the restocking fund, the derby fees amounted to $810, which was divided among the winners of the heaviest fish in four categories – trout, bass, pickerel and salmon.No pickerel were caught, so the cash prizes were split by the three other category winners, $270 each.The winner of the bass competition was George Fortin, who caught a 2.75-pounder using an Ippi’s shiner. The rainbow trout contest award went to Steve Dumas, for a 1.24-pound trout, measuring 15.5 inches, and also caught on an Ippi’s shiner.Rick Mytkowicz took the salmon competition by jigging with a gold KastMaster lure tipped with a meal worm. He also won the annual Seelley Memorial Salmon Award, earning him a $50 gift certificate to Ippi’s Bait & Tackle. The catch was Mytkowicz’s first salmon since about 1967.”It was very exciting,” said Ippoliti, noting the Seelley award was started this year by Robert Seelley in honor of his mother and father, both accomplished anglers and activists with the Lynn Fish and Game Protective Association.When the derby ended, the three winners donated an additional $95 toward the restocking fund for a total of $155. Ippoliti said she hopes to have enough money in the fund to celebrate the second annual restocking event in the summer of 2011.For information on upcoming local fishing derbies, call 781-596-0317 or go online to www.ippisbait.com