No boats for the first day of fishing, but derby goes on

SALISBURY — No one at the lake could remember it ever happening before: Lake Wononscopomuc was still frozen solid on the first day of fishing. 

Grove Manager Stacey Dodge estimated that there were about 4 inches of muck left on the water on Saturday morning, April 11. 

“There’s two inches of slush and a slab of ice,” she said, estimating that a few good winds will blow away the remaining reminders of the long, cold winter.

Ironically, the state decided this year to start fishing one week earlier than normal. The lake had been stocked ahead of time with 125 rainbow trout in the two ponds that lead into the larger body of water.

The traditional fishing derby was still held that morning, beginning at 6 a.m. The fish were fairly quiet at first but began to perk up by around 8 a.m., when the derby was scheduled to end (the deadline was extended by a half hour). 

The winners of the derby this year were:

• 6 and under: Alice Werner, 3 pounds, 1 ounce (19 inches); Kadynce Benoit, 1.45 pounds; Liberty Brammer, 9 ounces

• 7 and 8: Tanner Reid, 3 pounds, 21ounces

• 9 and 10: Kirstin Strid, 3 pounds, 3 ounces; Mackenzie Ongley, 1 pound, 1 ounce (13 inches)

• 11 and 12: Sarah Upson, 1 pound, 1 ounce, Christina Winburn, 1 pound, 1 ounce (14 inches) and also 6 ounces (11 inches).  

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