By Jack Halchak, Past Chief Hurleyville Fire Department
The Hurleyville Fire Department is always looking for new recruits, whether it is to drag hose and fight the flames of a fire, or to help in the background. We even provide free training and gear. Stop by the firehouse any Monday night to see what we are all about and see how you can help us.
The Hurleyville Fire Department and the Town of Fallsburg Youth Commission recently held their 29th Annual Ice Fishing Contest on Morningside Lake on Brickman Road in Hurleyville. The day started clear, with temperatures in the mid-twenties. As I approached the lake at the early hour of 4:30 AM, I could see lights and fires on the backside of the lake already. As the day progressed, the temperatures rose into the mid-30s, with no wind and the sun peeking out every once in a while for a great day on the lake.
By day’s end there were 160 ice fisherpeople on the ice.
At 3 o’clock sharp the contest ended and the raffles and trophies were given out.
Once again, there was a number of large bullhead caught. And for the first time in a number of years there were a lot of crappies caught. There were about a dozen that weighed in at over a pound.
Most of the fish were released back into the lake. Of course a few perch were taken home for a fish fry. (Good eatin’!)
In the youth division:
Pan fish
1st Isaiah Hannold
2nd Connor Gorr
3rd Cheyenne Torres
Perch
1st Averie Conklin
2nd Chase Beseth
3rd Skylar Henebery
Pickerel
1st Emma Curry, 2.22 lbs. 20.50 inches
2nd Cheyenne Torres, 1.49 lbs., 18.00 inches
3rd Aiden Rausch, 1.44 lbs., 18.00 inches
In the adult division:
Bullhead
1st Ed Schneider
2nd Andy Cook
3rd Shelia Stocker
Panfish
1st Frank Lehockey
2nd Keven Riley
3rd Todd Angus
Perch
1st Ryan Brockner
2nd Darrell Horton
3rd William Hall
Pickerel
1st Eric Ivan, 2.40 lbs., 21.25 inches
2nd William Hall, 2.39 lbs., 20.50 inches
3rd Derek Holmes, 1.88 lbs., 19.50 inches
There was one walleye caught, by Nick Price, 16 inches long and it weighed 1.49 lbs.
In the firemen’s contest the defending champion Tappan Fire Department came in third with 4.43 total pounds. The winner of the contest was the Neversink Fire Department with 6.11 pounds of fish, followed by the Kerhonkson Fire Department in second place with 5.11 pounds.
On the fire side of my job, I responded to a couple of structure fires since my last article. It is suspected that some of these fires were started by heating units. Once again, I cannot stress enough to maintain your heating equipment.
Right now with snow on the ground we should be OK for brush fire season. But, as I write this article the snow is melting and melting fast. Before you know it we will be in brush fire season.
A reminder that the burn ban goes into effect from March 15 thru May 15. That means NO open burning. More on this in my next article.
Be Safe.