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Chilliwack Progress
Derby has distinct conservation angle
People can watch for pikeminnow with these these bright orange tags around the dorsal fin while taking part in the Greg Clark Memorial Family Fishing Derby on June 20 at Main Beach.
JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Text By Jennifer Feinberg - Chilliwack Progress
Published: June 16, 2009 8:00 AM
Updated: June 16, 2009 8:36 AM
0 Comments They really sweetened the pot for the pikeminnow derby this Saturday.
For the first time, the event held at Cultus Lake during B.C.’s Family Fishing Weekend, also features a chance to win $2,500 in cash.
Event organizers tagged 25 fish of varying sizes with fluorescent-orange spaghetti tags last Thursday to prepare for the derby on June 20 at Main Beach.
The tags are worth $100 each to anyone who brings up a tagged pikeminnow.
“This year we’ve made the cash prizes available for the first time, in order to encourage more participation by adults,” said co-organizer Frank Kwak.
But just pre-buying a ticket in advance gives everyone a chance to win prizes, as well.
The fishing extravaganza sponsored by the Fraser Valley Salmon Society is formally called The Greg Clark Memorial Family Fishing Derby, to commemorate the late Greg Clark, who was an avid angler.
“There’s no charge for fishing this weekend, and you won’t need a fishing licence,” said Kwak. “People can bring the kids, and a rod. They don’t have to have a tackle box if they fish off the peer.
“It’s just an excellent way to promote the sport of fishing, and encourage people who have never fished to give it a try.”
They don’t need a licence this weekend courtesy of the province, but all other applicable rules and regulations to do with fishing in fresh-water are in effect.
One of the attractions will be the fishing guides who’ll be taking groups of people out on the lake in their boats for free, added Kwak. It will be on a first come, first served basis, but they’ll take six to eight people out at a time.
“We’re really trying to make it a family event, and we’ve tried to keep the cost of everything down low,” he said.
The event has always been geared to raising the profile of angling, but it also has a conservation angle, since the voracious pikeminnow is thought to be preying on the endangered Cultus Lake sockeye.
“The Cultus Sockeye Recovery Team that met a few years ago, came to the conclusion that there were a number of things we could do to help the sockeye. “One of those things was to try to take down the number of predators in the lake,” Kwak said.
The pikeminnow seem to be reproducing faster than ever, with an estimated 60,000 fish in the lake.
Derby tickets are $5/$2 (15 and under) at the Rosedale Mini-Mart, Chilliwack Dart and Tackle and Fred’s Custom Tackle.
Pre-buy tickets by Friday, June 19, and the names will go into a draw for prizes. The derby starts at daybreak, with the weigh-in at 2 p.m. sharp. Prizes handed out at 2:30 p.m. sharp, with the Memorial Trophy going to the largest junior fish (pikeminnow only), along with prizes in both adult and junior categories.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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Topic: Pike Minnow Derby At Cultus Lake (Read 25327 times)