The Team

This year your crappie derby is proud to announce that we will be again using Ice Fishing Professionals to assist our participants. If we have our way,, and are able to line-up the necessary equipment, we see the process going something like:

A youngster (or adult) will approach a Derby Staff Member (or a Pro-Staff Member Directly) requesting help/information.
They will be directed to the ProStaff Booth where they will be greeted by ProStaff and queued.
They will be introduced to the basics by George and Cheryl Dovolos.
This will include basic instructions and some equipment demonstration.
They will then be passed to other ProStaff who will demonstrate casting and allowed to practice.
This will be followed by equipment setup which will include a Rod & Reel with Line, Hook and Bait/Lure.

Following that, Holes will be drilled and they will be setup with the basic instructions of Jigging and allowed to fish.

We are fortunate to have the support of the following
Manufacturers/Distributors for your derby.

ProStaff Members
James Vladyka is owner and operator of Fish Hounds Outdoors in Benson Vermont and has been fishing the North East area his entire life. Since 2000 he has been specializing in guided ice fishing trips targeting White and Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Pike, Bass and Walleye. In Vermont he helps educate customers and promotes the great sport of fishing by hosting seminars and free youth clinics. Ice fishing is where his skills excel, his goal is to help you learn as much as possible. Spend time with him and you will walk off the ice with a better understanding of how to catch more fish! He also does public speaking to help promote products he uses and believes in. James has appeared in magazines such as Crappie World, Fur Fish & Game and F+W’s Ice Fishing magazine ( as one of four hot spot destinations along the Ice Belt). James has also appeared on Vermont’s Outdoor Journal with host Lawrence Pine. James has put his fishing skills against some of the top fisherman in the country by participating in the Professional ice fishing circuit and National Qualifiers. In addition to Clam he is also a Pro Staff member for Vexilar, StrikeMaster, Custom Jigs & Spins, Navionics, Delorme, FishGillz and Maki Plastic.	Bill Snover ProStaff member for Clam Corporatio. Vexilar Corp, and Strikemaster. Been a competative angler for many years. Have fished Open Water and On The Ice from Colorado to New England. Qualified for NAIFC National Championship. Is a Board Member of Avon Anglers who takes pride in their Children Clinics. Use Maki Plastic and Kodiak Ice Jigs exclusively.
George & Cheryl Dovolos 20+ Years affiliation with fishing programs for kids in NYS Guided Fishing Trips - Silver Lake Guide Service 20 Years of Fishing Affilliations with New York State DEC, Parks and Cornell University Ice Team Powersticks Vexilar, Jason Mitchell and Clam Prostaff	Joe Pikulski Joe has been associated with the new Arctic Armor floating ice suit. His techniques made his team the one to beat on the North American Ice Fishing circuit. He was NAIFC team of the year 3 years straight & stared on ICEMEN TV Show. Co-Owner of Kodiak Ice Jigs
Capt. Chris Gatley is the current Sales Manager for Navionics. For the past 14 years, Chris operated a successful full time charter business named the Ardent Angler, was featured in national fishing publications and worked his way into a correspondent position with ESPN Outdoors. When he is not out chasing winter walleye on river systems, he can be found hiding in the bushes along an unfrozen trout stream.	Capt. Mike Weaver also known by New York fishermen as Land Shark, targets walleye and perch through the ice all season long. Mike can be found fishing most of the central New York waterways including Whitney Point.
	Jim Everard is a Aquatic Biologist with NYSDEC who works in Region 7 out of the Cortland office. He is heavily involved in promoting the great sport of fishing and fishing resources in New York State through education (fishing clinics, aquatics education, fish biology, etc.) and information (Central New York Fishing hotline, brochures, web pages www.dec.ny.gov). Jim is also a very avid angler who spends many hours on the water and ice each year.


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