Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on December 26, 2014, 01:33:21 PM
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Chris has just phoned and provided an update as of 1:30pm, with only 30 more minutes before weigh-in closes. 247 participants have entered this year's derby. 9 fish have been weighed in so far, largest is 12.14lb. He'll have complete results and photos later on. Thanks Chris!
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Thanks Chris and Rod for keeping us shut ins informed.
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Thanks Chris and Rod for keeping us shut ins informed.
Writing the story now and have sent pictures for Rod to post too.
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Repeat Winner in 71st Annual Boxing Day Vedder River Steelhead Derby
247 eager steelhead fishers had ideal fishing condition for the 71st Boxing Day Steelhead Derby organized by the Chilliwack Fish & Game Protective Association under the direction of derby chairman and club president Mel Dureen.
The cool weather the last couple of days had the water color of the Chilliwack Vedder River was just perfect for winter steelhead fishing, steelhead green. The 247 entries were down from last year's 333 but the catch was up by 4 fish as 11 hatchery steelhead were brought to the weigh scales by the 2 PM derby deadline.
It was a repeat derby winner who took home the coveted Ferguson Furnell perpetual trophy and a Bradley Smoker as Richard Sheremeto of Chilliwack captured the Kingfish award for 2014 with a 12.144 hen steelhead that was .275 pounds ahead of second place finisher William Reeke’s 11.869 steelhead, also a doe.
Sheremeto also won top prize in 2010 with a 14.90 fish and has now landed 4 steelhead in 15 times of entering the derby, defiantly a king fisher. Sheremeto who had his fish on the scales at 12.55 said while the fish was being weighted. “I had come up to the club house about 15 or 20 minutes before to see how many fish were hanging on the board and then headed back out and landed this fish.” Although Sheremeto had been out on the water very early in the morning I guess it shows the early bird does not always get the worm (winner). The winning steelhead fell for a roe presentation.
Ian Wagner was an early bird winner as he entered a 11.22 fish at 7:45 AM, 45 minutes ahead of the next fish. Wagner was awarded first fish to the scales prize.
Ryan Hutchinson who took 3rd place entered the last fish a 11.781 pounder beating the 2pm deadline by only 3 minutes.
Christopher Barnes landed the smallest steelhead with a 7.48 steelhead.
Peter Hendricks won the hidden weight, with his steelhead weighing 8.889 pounds.
Other winners included Brad Langley: 10.629, Robert Ulm: 10.23, Cody Sojta: 8.437, Philip Lochrie: 8.283, and Clayton Jones: 8.217.
Derby Chairman Mel Dureen said he and his committee were once again pleased with the derby and all the local merchants who kindly donated prizes and made the derby once again possible. “The derby is one of the major fundraisers of the year and all funds raised go to help fund fish and wildlife habitat conservation projects” Dureen added.
Fish Tails:
The derby was first held in 1938 with Carl Wilson being the winner but was not held for a few years due to poor steelhead returns.
All 11 steelhead caught this year were does.
The largest Kingfish was caught in 1970 by the late Walt Engle, a 21.30 pound fish.
The smallest winner was a smallest 9.13 pounds, caught by Wilfred Clark in 1942.
The average winning fish in the 70 previous derbies was, 14.37 pounds.
A fair amount of wild fish were reported taken today which have to be released as only hatchery steelhead can be retained. These are hatchery steelhead that are raised in the Chilliwack River Hatchery each year before they are released as smolts each spring.
Stay tuned for pictures
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Thank you Chris for the report. I had hoped to make it to the derby but unforseen circumstances kept me from making it. Hopefully next year I will make it, I usually don't miss it.
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(http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k95/steelieman/derby_zpsc154884c.jpg) (http://s86.photobucket.com/user/steelieman/media/derby_zpsc154884c.jpg.html)
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(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-1_zps2b28bd02.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-4_zpsc0a7b3a4.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-2_zps63692813.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-5_zps8cf38336.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-3_zpsafc19725.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-6_zps423798e7.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2014/141226-7_zps7a003f63.jpg)
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I have put more pictures up on the Fraser Valley Salmon Society FB page if you wish to see more on the derby.
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Here is a short video of the derby board I filmed. http://youtu.be/PUCkJap2pME
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A betty or two and Ryan might of taken the trophy ;)
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A betty or two and Ryan might of taken the trophy ;)
;) ;)
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I figured I had enough Betty's in it to take the derby.... Guess not...
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I figured I had enough Betty's in it to take the derby.... Guess not...
Surprised they didn't make you clean it in front of them after they weighed it... the trust they have in you astounds me ;D ;D Betty's are for amateurs (it leaves a weird bulge), totally have to shove small metal pellets up the fish to make it look normal :-X
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what is the rough number of steelhead known to inhabit the vedder/chilli?
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what is the rough number of steelhead known to inhabit the vedder/chilli?
Here's some relevant info ...
http://www.bccf.com/steelhead/r2-focus5.htm#chil (http://www.bccf.com/steelhead/r2-focus5.htm#chil)
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that link shows the sad state of BC steelhead management. Data was truely relevant more than a decade ago. Lots has changed since those statistics from 2002.
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that link shows the sad state of BC steelhead management. Data was truely relevant more than a decade ago. Lots has changed since those statistics from 2002.
Perhaps, but I think the info provides a good idea of the "rough number of steelhead".
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Sadly that is the best data available and management decisions are based on it and annual punch card analysis. I wonder when was the last time Chilliwack steelhead smolts had 13% marine survival ::)
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They would rather have them caught as smolts in the summer fishery. Sell more licenses.
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Sadly that is the best data available and management decisions are based on it and annual punch card analysis. I wonder when was the last time Chilliwack steelhead smolts had 13% marine survival ::)
A juvenile assessment was done on the Chilliwack in Oct this year. A number of snorkels on Lower Mainland winter run streams will be done this season as well. It's a start ;)
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A juvenile assessment was done on the Chilliwack in Oct this year. A number of snorkels on Lower Mainland winter run streams will be done this season as well. It's a start ;)
Yes it is, please keep us informed ! thanks bud :D
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Here's some relevant info ...
http://www.bccf.com/steelhead/r2-focus5.htm#chil (http://www.bccf.com/steelhead/r2-focus5.htm#chil)
thanks...pretty much what I expected...was it wrong for me to cringe when I saw that the winning specimen of the derby was a female
as a C&R fishery i think steelheading can provide an amazing experience and even a real test for anglers looking to test their skills...but these fish should not be in the frying pan...
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They are does but they are all hatchery fish. All wilds get released. Bonk!
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as a C&R fishery i think steelheading can provide an amazing experience and even a real test for anglers looking to test their skills...but these fish should not be in the frying pan...
I disagree, it's a hatchery run and the fish are added for this very reason. It is sustainable with dollars and manpower. There are plenty of places they are restricted. I have yet to catch and eat a steelhead, but that's not for the lack of trying. (Just can't get out much these days).
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wow the run below the crossing used to be amazing.
ohh the good old days ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-OLy50DdMs
now I know why there aren't a lot of big wild steelhead now a days ::)
there was perfect water for this years derby no fish for me though.
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Nice video , good job finding it . Heading out now , I'll be looking for that log , a little hard to balance on but it looks like the spot.
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I wonder if that Silex is still fishing :D
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Here a story I wrote about the 1986 derby when Nick's brother, Robert won the derby.
http://theprogress.newspapers.com/image/80512795/?terms=Nick+Basok
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Here a story I wrote about the 1986 derby when Nick's brother, Robert won the derby.
http://theprogress.newspapers.com/image/80512795/?terms=Nick+Basok
Wow. I can't imagine 47 fish weighed in, or releasing a 10lb hatch fish on derby day to try for bigger.
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And out of 47 fish, the smallest was 8.6 lbs!! That's almost the average weight now adays.
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Wow, roughly the same angling effort as this year but this year only yielding roughly 20% of the catch of 86.
86 was a big year for all the systems though as the hatcheries all pounded out the fish for expo……...
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So where does all the boxing day derby ticket sales go too? So with 250 guys and 20 bucks a ticket should be around 5000 bucks. I was at the derby and the prizes seemed very poor? Also why do they hand out coffee mugs to the guys who caught fish? Why not individual mounting trophys? I think that would be more appropriate and liked. Sorry, don't want to sound like a downer.
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Derby seems to be less attended each year. Not much advertising and less prizes. The top selections where good but quantity was less. I believe the prizes are all donated and money goes to river restoration. Pretty sure everyone volunteers so with that in mind it is well done. Thanks for giving us something to do on boxing day and keeping the tradition.
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So where does all the boxing day derby ticket sales go too? So with 250 guys and 20 bucks a ticket should be around 5000 bucks.
Good question ... I can't remember the last time the Fish and Game club spent any money on this river. Perhaps a member or two could chime in.
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Derby seems to be less attended each year. Not much advertising and less prizes. The top selections where good but quantity was less. I believe the prizes are all donated and money goes to river restoration. Pretty sure everyone volunteers so with that in mind it is well done. Thanks for giving us something to do on boxing day and keeping the tradition.
245 in '86 and 247 this year.
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So where does all the boxing day derby ticket sales go too? So with 250 guys and 20 bucks a ticket should be around 5000 bucks. I was at the derby and the prizes seemed very poor? Also why do they hand out coffee mugs to the guys who caught fish? Why not individual mounting trophys? I think that would be more appropriate and liked. Sorry, don't want to sound like a downer.
Join up with the club, I am sure they would welcome help with the derby next year. It always is hard to get help and to find people to go and dig up the prizes.
The Pike Minnow Derby at Cultus Lake may not go this year for the lack of volunteers and a group to take the lead.
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Join up with the club, I am sure they would welcome help with the derby next year. It always is hard to get help and to find people to go and dig up the prizes.
I agree with your thoughts Chris; finding volunteers is indeed difficult. No offence meant here my friend, but are you a member of this group and speaking for them? It seems to me since Gwynn Joiner passed away this Association has become more gun/hunting oriented ... with far less involvement in fisheries issues.
And that's fine and is their prerogative ... but Big Fishers question is still unanswered.
Please, anyone a member of this Association, tell us where this money will be spent.
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With up to 5,000 people reading the website daily, participation can easily be increased if someone at the association sends me the derby information so it can be published, which hasn't been done in the past couple of years now. It's free promotion for clubs, associations and stewardship groups... should take advantage of it.
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I agree with your thoughts Chris; finding volunteers is indeed difficult. No offence meant here my friend, but are you a member of this group and speaking for them? It seems to me since Gwynn Joiner passed away this Association has become more gun/hunting oriented ... with far less involvement in fisheries issues.
And that's fine and is their prerogative ... but Big Fishers question is still unanswered.
Please, anyone a member of this Association, tell us where this money will be spent.
No I am not a member, most likely should be but like you trying not to be involved in as many groups as in the past. I do my part in covering and taking pictures of the derby for this fishing forum. Here is a 2000 story I wrote pre derby for anyone wished to read it. http://theprogress.newspapers.com/image/81599507/?terms=Chris+Gadsden
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Attendance was down quite a lot this Boxing Day compared to last year.