ERIN, N.Y. (WENY) -- The cold weather did not stop people from grabbing their gear and going fishing. Ice fishing, that is. Families hit the ice in Erin on Saturday for the First Annual Park Station Ice Fishing Tournament. 

A decades-old Chemung County tradition is making a comeback and over 100 people took their spot on the ice at the Park Station pond to see what big catches swam their way.

"To have 142 people register, show up around 6:30 in the morning, be here till 3:30, just catching fish and seeing what they'll get just, there again, for the love of the sport and for the love of the outdoors," said Kevin Adams, the director of Chemung County Public Information. "You can't have a bad day when that's the energy that these participants are putting out."

Chemung County Executive Chris Moss partnered with the county's Federation of Sportsmen and Trout Unlimited to sponsor the Ice Fishing Tournament.

The event began at 8:00 A.M. and lasted until 3:00 A.M. Participants spent those hours camped out on the ice competing for the longest and heaviest fishes.

"So we have four categories this year we have we're giving prizes away for longest perch, pan/crappie, trout and then we're giving away a prize for the biggest fish," said David Kunzman, the caretaker at Park Station with Chemung County Parks and Recreation. "We call it Lunker Award. That's the biggest, heaviest fish, legal fish, that it's caught, and most of the prizes that we're giving away this year are gift certificates."

Some of the ice fishers say the day was quiet in terms of catches. However, that did not stop them from braving the bitter cold and spending time with fellow competitors, friends, and loved ones.

"I love coming out with my family," said Ryan Young, a participant and the vice president of Trout Unlimited. "It seems like every time we all come out together we have a great time. We don't catch fish when we do that, but we try. It's just great to spend time together and have everybody enjoy themselves."

Whether it's the thrill of the catch or spending time with family, some say the Park Station Ice Fishing Tournament is helping to make winter memories.

Organizers say this marks the first annual tournament and they can't wait to keep bringing it back for years to come.