This year’s Annual Ice Fishing Derby, hosted by Trustworthy Hardware in Soldotna, shattered previous records, drawing enthusiastic participants despite unpredictable ice conditions. Haley Miller from Trustworthy Hardware reported that attendance hit an all-time high, with nearly 225 fish logged—a record not seen since the derby featured pike.
“Participation was fantastic, actually,” Miller said. “We just broke our Derby record for being our best year ever since we had Pike in the Derby. Even with the temperamental ice conditions at the end of January, people just really wanted to get out and do something.”
Miller explained that the unusually mild weather and minimal snowfall in early February helped create ideal conditions on the smaller lakes. “There wasn’t a lot of snow, and when we got a warm-up towards the end of February, it got slick, so people were extra cautious, but the excitement remained high.”
The derby, which features multiple species, saw impressive performances from both the kids and adult divisions. In the Kids Division, standout winners included Brooklyn Boulden capturing the Rainbow at 2.76 pounds, Kaden Hayes landing the Dolly Varden at 2.79 pounds, Kendal Moore winning the Salmon division with a 1.04-pound catch, Brandton Boulden taking home the Lake Trout at 1.73 pounds, and Ian Chihuly earning the Grayling title at 0.76 pounds.
The Adult Division also produced some memorable moments. Haley highlighted Joseph Ross’ 6.41-pound Rainbow catch. The Dolly Varden division was tight, with James Nixon bringing in a 7.37-pound winner, a result that exceeded expectations after an earlier contender’s impressive 6.3-pound fish.
“We witnessed some huge fish this year, and it was really a testament to the spirit of our community,” Miller said.
In the Salmon division, Ryan Wheat pulled ahead with a 1.27-pound catch despite challenges posed by the closure of some big lakes. Eric Higbee dominated the Lake Trout division with a 2.54-pound catch, while Wayne Mize won the Grayling division at 0.81 pounds.
Jaden Garner claimed victories in two categories—winning the Burbot division at 2.45 pounds and the White Fish division at 1.61 pounds.
“It was a thrilling day on the ice,” Miller said. “With such diverse participation and exciting wins across all categories, this derby has once again shown why ice fishing is a cherished tradition in our community.”
