2025 GREAT OUTDOORS FISHING DERBY, Current Entries / Standings

Game fish under 20" (WF comes through again at 19-1/2" - pretty typical of the ones I had caught in the fall). Now, that 30"+ is going to be a bit of a problem. Not really interested in using larger bait to get one and will have to hope a big laker will hit a small lure of mine like a couple has done for other derby entrants.

On the lake you’re fishing, I will guarantee you won’t crack 30”. 99% sure

On the lake you’re fishing, I will guarantee you won’t crack 30”. 99% sure

I saw a FB posting of a fish that was over 15lbs caught from the north end of this lake at the start of the ice fishing season. I don't know what that translates to length though; it was a pretty good sized laker. It was released...hopefully, in good shape. Also chatted to an old gent yesterday and he said released a 9lber earlier in the day (he is well known around here to everyone) - don't know how accurate he was with the size of his trout. But I agree with you, not many large trout in the lake. On the other hand, pike are supposedly pretty large (but I haven't seen a single pike in the areas where I fish). But I'm okay with not cracking 30"...just happy the lake has decent fishing. I'm not planning to go after a large fish just for a derby entry....if it happens, it happens. I would like to get most of the panfish entries done though = panfish to eat too.

Gamefish 20"-25"
I thought it was a whitefish, but at home took a better look and it seems to be a giant 21" cisco.

Wow. nice one. I would have thought the same at first. I can't believe it beats my WF entry for under 20" Hmmm....it looks odd for a cisco though. I wonder if it's one of those rare hybrids between cisco and WF. Either way, very cool.

Wow. nice one. I would have thought the same at first. I can't believe it beats my WF entry for under 20" Hmmm....it looks odd for a cisco though. I wonder if it's one of those rare hybrids between cisco and WF. Either way, very cool.

Thanks
Not sure if that means one or another, but it bit between 5 and 10 feet in 40 FOW. It also does not smell like cucumber. Here is the photo of the closed mouth

... and open

For sure, I would put it down as cisco as well. What I meant to say that it looked like an odd cisco. I know there are some hybrids out there and wondered if this may have been one of them but I have never seen any hybrids so would not know what they looked like. And I have no idea if they look any different inside.

Very odd fish... It looks a whitefish to me as well. The colouration on the fins and body shape. But the mouth seems to be pointing straight.. hmmmm.

Could it be possible someone damaged the mouth parts of this whitefish during hooking / unhooking and it healed this way, looking like a cisco...

Added to gamefish entry

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought it was a bit unusual looking. It's actually a "handsome" looking fish. It would be interesting to see if it's as bony inside as cisco or more like WF.

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought it was a bit unusual looking. It's actually a "handsome" looking fish. It would be interesting to see if it's as bony inside as cisco or more like WF.

We have not eaten cisco for many years to compare. We have just baked this fish and based on how it tastes the wife and I believe it is a whitefish.
I will send you a PM with the bone structure I tried to preserve

I haven't had cisco for a few years now but it is quite bony and I never really bothers filleting them as it's very difficult to get boneless (if not impossible). if you were able to fillet it like a WF and boneless (with the exception of the pin bones...some people don't worry about cutting them out), then it would be more like a WF. very cool indeed.

A couple of lake Joe lakers
Not the best opener that's for sure
And the snow just keeps coming

Gamefish under 20"
The card is in the first Pic.

Gamefish 20"-25"
Card is in the first Pic