Bristol angler wins $15K grand prize at Great Meredith Rotary Fishing Derby

MEREDITH — Kevin Jackson of Bristol won the Sherman Sanderson Cup, the $15,000 grand prize of the Great Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby, on Sunday afternoon.

Jackson's winning ticket was drawn by Gov. Kelly Ayotte at the 46th annual event. Jackson also caught the largest fish on the board, a lake trout he fished out of Lake Winnisquam, 12.21 pounds and 32.5 inches in length. He barely edged out Jeremy Williams of Newport, who pulled a 12.2-pound lake trout, slightly longer at 32.75 inches, from Stinson Lake. Jackson was excited about his win.

“I've been waiting for this day for quite a while, I guess, since [I was] a kid.”

While he has been ice fishing for as long as he can remember, this was the first ticket for the derby he purchased himself.

“This is the first ticket I bought. I've been given tickets before, but usually I don't buy it because I like fishing by myself,” he said. “I don't like fishing in crowds and stuff.”

When asked what he would do with the purse, he originally gave what he called a “political answer”: a “cart full of groceries.” But instead, he said he might go somewhere to get away from the cold required for ice fishing.

“I don't have plans for the money,” he said. “I guess maybe a nice, warm vacation somewhere.”

Before Ayotte drew his ticket, she talked briefly about the event. She alluded to good ice conditions on the lake, and even got some laughs from the crowd following her opening remarks.

“I’m so glad I got elected and I brought ice back,” she said.

This year’s event sold the most tickets in 20 years. On Monday, ticket numbers and  funds raised were still be counted. Due to the success of this year, in addition to the top three winners receiving $15,000, $5,000, and $3,000 prizes, other fish category winners earned $1,000 each. Ayotte spoke to the success this year.

“We want this to get even bigger,” she said. “I know we had a record year, so thank you for being here and just what a great day.”

Steve Bennett, a derby judge for 27 years, was honored Sunday in a remembrance ceremony before the announcement of the winners. He died in February last year. This year's event was the first with a kids activity tent, which included a scavenger hunt, cookie decorating and a kids fishing clinic with New Hampshire Fish and Game. Going forward, the tent will be named after Bennett to honor his legacy at the derby. His daughter Kelly Bennett spoke about the honor.

“If he could have chosen anything to continue his legacy with this derby, it would have been that children's tent, because it's all about the education,” Kelly said. "It's all about bringing up the next generation of responsible fishermen and good citizens. And just bonding with the community would have meant the world to him.”

Kelly wore her father’s signature yellow high visibility safety jacket. She said it made him easily recognizable.

“Everybody in this town knew him in that bright yellow jacket. You couldn't miss him, towered over 6 feet tall, and the bright yellow jacket,” she said.

Monica Bennett, Steve's widow, highlighted his achievements: She said he was in the fire department for 43 years, emergency management director for the town for 25 years, a former police officer, former Fish and Game officer. He was also involved in Altrusa and Rotary in Meredith. She also noted he had a degree in ichthyology, the study of fish. She believes this contributed to his mastery as derby judge.

John Sherman, one of the derby's founders, was also honored Sunday. He died in December. His son Jim Sherman spoke briefly. He not only honored his father, but gave credit to the Rotarians who volunteer their time each year.

“He was very proud in working with the Rotary Club, because it wasn't a one-man operation,” he said. “The whole club, the Rotary Club, puts this on. Everybody has their job, and it never could have been done without the whole club in the town and all the people.”