Sport fishermen from Revelstoke dominated the Rainbow Trout Division of last weekend’s Shuswap Derby near Sicamous.
Fall derby organizer Kevin Linkletter said first and second prizes were won by, respectively, boats named the Beach Comber and Every 2 Days Crew, out of Revelstoke. Beach Comber is owned by Brett Renaud and Every 2 Days Crew is Peter Bernacki’s pride and joy. Beach Comber hauled in a 27-inch rainbow and Every 2 Days Crew reeled in a 26-incher of the same species.
Third place was won by the Tip Sea Crew out of Enderby with a 25.5-inch rainbow.
Balls Deep out of Kelowna won first place in the Lake Trout Division with as 27.75-inch fish. Lure Washer out of Vernon took second with a a 27.5-inch laker and Tip Sea out of Enderby took third. No size was given for that fish.
In the Junior 17 and Under Rainbow Trout Division first place was taken with a 22.5-inch rainbow caught by Nicholas on the Hartwig Thunderjet. Second was won by Mady with a 22-inch fish from aboard the It’s Time. Nicholas also won third place with a 21 fish.
“The spirit of the Derby is catch-and-release only recording legal size rainbow trout and lake trout,” Linkletter told The Current. “Anglers measure the fish on a ruler and take a photo, then radio in on VHF or text the catch to me. Then the fish can be released, if the angler has a species tag they can choose to harvest the catch. The majority of fish are released.”
Prizes consisted of cash from entry fees, Mercury Motorguide electric trolling motor, Scotty Downrigger, Rod holders, Bait table, cups etc, Lyman Lures prize packages. This year all the Juniors received a Lyman Lure plug and Sea Dog Boat Sales in Sicamous donated 2 Mustang HIT inflatable life jackets and Hats, Boathouse Marine in Salmon Arm $200 in gift cards, Westside Stores in Salmon Arm Donated additional juniors’ prizes of rods, reels and gift cards, Western Equipment supplied a Williams flashlight and fish processing gloves. There was also “one really nice prize this year, a custom-made bait casting rod that was donated by Kencraft and customized by Jim Rice in Vernon,” Linkletter said.
Derby Winners also received custom clothing from Integrated Apparel Revelstoke, BC sales@integratedapparel.com, which also designed the derby logo.
“The fishing was the best I have seen it in the last few years, lots of really healthy looking fish w]ere caught in the 23-to-24-inch range,” Kevin said. “Fishing is going to rock in the spring!”
The Spring Derby will be sometime in early May. For more Derby info please send an e-mail to kevin.linkletter@gmail.com
And finally, the sportsmen who participated in this event saw $5 off their $15 per-rod entry fee donated to the Kingfisher Interpretive Center (the salmon hatchery on the Shuswap River). “This year $400 was raised at the fall derby,” Linkletter said. “This year we also had some of the winners donate their cash winnings of $320 to the Kingfisher Interpretive Center.”
