Fishing for a wish

On an overcast, Sunday on the ice in front of the Palmer Elks Lodge on, with temperatures in the low 30s and a breeze blowing across Finger Lake, about 432 kids ages 3 to 15 helped other kids by participating in an ice fishing derby.

The Mat-Su Kids Ice Fishing Derby was a fundraiser for the Alaska Make-A-Wish Foundation and raised more than $11,000 through participant registrations, prize raffles, and donations.

During the awards ceremony, Jehnifer Ehmann said “We had hoped we would raise $5,000 plus one penny! That was the figure we had in mind. We are very pleased to announce that, through the registration fees, raffle tickets and donations, we actually raised more than $11,000 for the Alaska Make-A-Wish foundation. All of that money will stay in Alaska to benefit kids with life-threatening medical conditions.”

Butch and Jehnifer Ehmann of Ehmann’s Outdoors pulled the event together in 30 days with the help and sponsorship of several national ice-fishing equipment manufacturers and many local businesses offering products and services ranging from home improvement, sporting goods, and guided fishing trips to voice and print media and insurance products. A long list of individual volunteers also facilitated the event.

Fishing began at 10 a.m. and ran until just before 3:30 p.m. Prizes and trophies were awarded for the longest three fish in each of two age categories: ages 3 to 9, and ages 10 to 15. An extra inch was added onto the actual measured length if the fish was released after check-in.

First place in the 3 through 9 age group went to Haden Hale with a 17-inch fish; second was Andreya Steen with a 15 ½-inch fish; and third place went to Katelynn Lubasky with a 15 ¼-inch fish. In the 10- to 15-year-old age group, Josh Bryant took first place with a 23 ¼-inch fish; Payton Bergin took second with a 22 ½-inch fish; and Caleb Covington took third place with a 22-inch fish. Prizes were also given for the first fish checked in and the last fish registered. All the kids who fished received a ribbon and first aid kit donated by Mat-Su Regional Hospital to each child participant.

State Rep. Shelley Hughes and Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss were on hand to draw the raffle tickets where first prize was a power ice auger fueled by propane. Tickets for other valuable ice fishing gear, two guided fishing charters, restaurant gift cards, and a 10-year subscription to Fish Alaska magazine were also drawn and awarded.

A young lady named Bryanna was introduced during the awards ceremony as a Make-A-Wish recipient whose wish to go on a European cruise had just been granted. Butch Ehmann had coordinated with Bryanna earlier on Sunday to ride a snowmachine, go ice fishing, and help release fish after the derby measuring in — all first time activities for Bryanna.

During the wrap up of the awards presentation, Jehnifer Ehmann said, “The success of this event is directly attributable to all our great sponsors, all the kids who fished, the volunteers for their time and effort, and everyone who bought one of the 500 raffle tickets available. My husband, Butch, should be individually recognized for his efforts in making this all happen. We want to thank each and every one of you.”

In an interview before the awards ceremony, she said Make-A-Wish contacted Ehmann Outdoors while they were planning this fishing derby and asked if Butch and Jehnifer would take a boy from Florida ice fishing, snowmachining, and out to watch the Northern Lights in March. She said that was the child’s wish to come to Alaska to experience these activities.

“Not only do we have the privilege of fundraising for Make-A-Wish, but now we get to help make a child’s wish happen. It’s our dream come true!” she said.