ROCHE HARBOR

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The derby is the first in Northwest Salmon Derby Series,a series of 14 competitions. Two boats are given out at the end of the 14 competitions.

One is a 23-foot, welded aluminum fishing boat from Pacific Boats in Marysville. It is powered with a 225 4-stroke Suzuki outboard motor, along with a high-thrust 9.9 Suzuki trolling motor. The boat sits on a tandem axel galvanized EZ Loader trailer. The boat is fully outfitted with Raymarine electronics which include a depth/fish finder, gps, radar and vhf/cb radios. It also has a sound system from Marineworks Audio in Lynnwood, and Scotty Downriggers. The value of the boat, motor and trailer, fully outfitted is $70,000. Anglers can win this boat by participating in one or more of the 14 tournaments in the 2008 Derby Series. One name will be drawn, from all the tournaments, at the Edmonds Coho Derby on September 6th.

All kids who participate in one or more of the 14 derbies in the 2008 Northwest Salmon Derby Series qualify to win a boat, motor and trailer. The boat, a 14-foot Stabi-Craft boat is powered with a 25 horsepower 4-stroke motor on a galvanized EZ Loader trailer. The boat will be equipped with a depth/fish finder and rod holders. The boat, similar to the Stabi-Craft boat donated by this New Zealand based company is virtually unsinkable, as the result of welded aluminum chambers. The value is about $12,000 dollars and all kids qualify to win this Kids Division prize, whether they catch a fish or not.

Related Pages

FISHING COMPETITIONS

2008

$20K awarded and 141 fish caught in 5th annual Salmon Fishing Classic at Roche Harbor

2007

Simms wins $10K in fishing derby; Holman $5K

A couple of firsts for Einar-Barr Fishing Classic

2006

Lawson lands derby winner in 'nasty' conditions

A couple of firsts for Einar-Barr Fishing Classic

2005

Angler wins Nielsen/Barr by 1 ounce - 21th Annual Einar Nielsen/Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Classic

Bellingham man hooks $10,000 anniversary, birthday gift- second Annual Salmon Classic Invitational

Russ Lett leads Roche Harbor derby

2004

Anglers vying for $10K prize - Roche Harbor Village first Annual Salmon Classic Invitational

Einar's kin wins derby
20th Annual Einar Nielsen/Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Classic

2003

19th Annual Einar Nielsen-Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Derby

$20K awarded and 141 fish caught in
5th annual Salmon Fishing Classic at Roche Harbor

Story and photos by Sharon Kivisto
MORE photos still to be uploaded from four other photographers

posted 02/13/2008
Ivan Moorhouse had to be the luckiest fisherman in the 5th Annual Salmon Classic Invitational Fishing Derby at Roche Harbor this past weekend. He caught a 5-pound salmon and walked away with a $2,000 prize. A new category was added this year for "mystery" fish and a ticket was drawn randomly from all entries who had caught a fish. Moorhouse took the laughter and ribbing from the crowd in stride as he jumped onstage to collect his cash.

This year's Grand Prize winner, Randy Opel of Arlington, reeled in a 19.14-pound king on the first day of competition Friday, Feb. 9, 2008 took home $10,000 in cash. A record 72 salmon were caught during the first day of the two-day derby. Sixty-nine fish were caught on the second day for a total of 141 fish.

Skipper Pat Garrison of U-Betcha and Randy Opel.

"I knew it was going to be an contender," Opel said of the fish caught near Humphrey Head off of Lopez Island. "I was surprised it didn't have an adipose fin." Only hatchery fish can be caught. Natural-run chinook must be released. Adipose fins are cut off at the hatchery.

Competition closed at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night. Asked if he had been worried all day about his fish being beat, he said, "No, I've been coming here for four years. I enjoy fishing. It's just about having a good time and getting out. After a while (on Saturday), we started thinking, 'Wow what if we really win'."

Michael Bredeson of Everson finished second with a 16-pound 12-ounce salmon and took home $5,000. Damon Peterson's 15 pound 4-ounces chinook was third and garnered a $1,500 prize. Peterson briefly led the derby before being bumped down to third.

Michael Bredeson.

Damon Peterson.

Richard Price finished just out of the money with a 15 pound fish and Benjamin Jacobs was fourth with 14-pound 8-ounces salmon.

The prize for total boat weight went to Charlie Rinker, Jace Rinker and Zack Miller of Bellingham for a catch of 46-pound 11-ounces. They took home a $1,500 prize.

The trophy for the youngest angler went to 6-year-old Tristen Roeler.

Gerald Weinandt, science technician from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, was at the derby to measure fish and take samples. The information was taken on a voluntary basis. Weinandt used a magnetic wand to determine if the fish had a electronic tag in it from the hatchery. If it did, he asked the fisherman who caught the fish if he could cut off the snout. The snout was then taken back to the state lab where it would be removed. The data would be used to determine where it was released and compared with where it was caught. A dozen snouts were gathered during the derby.

Weinandt also collected scales from the fish. Similar to how rings on trees are used to determine the age of trees, they can be used to determine the age of the salmon. Weinandt said the fish are mostly three to four years old. The majority of derby participants waited in line while Weinandt measured and examined their catch.

There were 99 boats in the derby. One boat did not make it. The event is growing in popularity, it always sells out, but this year was much earlier. All tickets were gone by Dec. 7.

The grand prize winner, was able to enter only because someone else dropped out two weeks before the start. The waiting list had 30 names on it. Many of this year's competitors were signing up for next year's invitational on the last night of the derby. Next year's derby is scheduled for Feb. 5-7, 2009.

Opel's 19-pound chinook leads Roche Harbor Classic after 1 day

posted 02/08/2008
Randy Opel of Arlington reeled in a 19.14-pound king to lead the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Friday, Feb. 9. A record 72 salmon were caught during the first day of the two-day derby.

Most of the anglers were smiling as they munched on hot dogs after weighing their fish.

"We had fish on all day," said Opel's fishing partner Pat Garrison. "It was crazy."

"You can fish all day and get nothing but when you have one of these days it makes it all worthwhile," the skipper of U-Betcha! said.

Miller and Rinker lead the best boat total with 46 pounds, 11 ounces.

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