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Kids net fish, prizes

A record-breaking year for Kids’ Fishing Derby at the wharf.
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Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer Mace Desilets helps his daughter Ellie drop her line into Salmon Arm Bay during the Kid’s fishing derby on Sunday, June 18.

Fish were caught, fun was had and records were broken at the 21st Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby held at the Salmon Arm wharf on Sunday June 18.

Over 300 people attended the event and 90 fish were caught.

The derby is a Father’s Day tradition which event organizer James Murray started in memory of his father.

“I now have young people coming who were in the derby that are now bringing their kids,” Murray said. “It’s not about the prizes, it’s not about the fish, it’s just about spending time together.”

Murray described the conditions for fishing on Sunday as ideal and predicted about halfway through the derby that more fish might be caught this year than in any previous derby.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had this many fish caught, there’s a couple of real fishing machines down there,” he said.

Murray’s prediction came true as Koen Koppel reeled in 18 fish single-handedly – a derby record.

Asa Weed and Darius Sept were runners-up in the contest for the most fish caught.

Although Koppel got the most fish, the largest one of the day was landed by Julian Hudson, whose fish weighed in at a hefty 3.558 kilograms.

Runners up in the contest for the largest fish were Dain Jones in second place and Alex Smolne in third.

Carson Blair caught the first fish of the day.

Nolan Walters and Aislynn Favell each won prizes for catching fish closest to the hidden weight.



Jim Elliot

About the Author: Jim Elliot

I’m a B.C. transplant here in Whitehorse at The News telling stories about the Yukon's people, environment, and culture.
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