SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A battle of bragging rights for the NWT's Ultimate Fishing Town is heating up as the contest enters its final day.

Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem poses with lake whitefish caught at Tartan Rapids on the Yellowknife River in the fall of 2007. Yellowknife is currently in second place in the Ultimate Fishing Town competition.

Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the first round of the competition, so Northerners will be casting their votes in more than just the federal election today.

In the North, there are five communities vying for the title. On Saturday, Lutsel K'e was on top of the region with 686 votes. Yellowknife was trailing behind in second with 119 votes, while Deline was in third with 98 votes. The other two nominees are Iqaluit, with 48 votes, and Whitehorse, with three votes.

The top three towns in each region ­ North, Western Canada, Central Canada and Eastern Canada ­ will move on to the final round of voting, along with eight wild card towns chosen by the World Fishing Network ­ the competition sponsor. The town to tally the most votes between May 10 and 31 will receive the title and the grand prize of $25,000 to be put toward a fishing-related cause.

Within the Northern region, a friendly rivalry has started between Lutsel K'e and Yellowknife, stemming from Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem's comment last week that fishing in Lutsel K'e is good, but it falls under the umbrella of Yellowknife.

"I see their fishing as part of our fishing because you gotta go through Yellowknife first and it's the same lake," he said on Monday.

In response, Stephanie Poole, who nominated Lutsel K'e, said there's nothing like fishing in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, not even fishing in Yellowknife.

"The East Arm is much more beautiful and different," she said. "The water is pristine and clean and the fishing here is outstanding.

"Here, all you really need to do is drop a lure in the water and you'll catch a really huge fish.

"We're really blessed here on the East Arm and we don't take it for granted and we're willing to share with the rest of the world that this is the ultimate fishing town."

James Marlowe, who was born and raised in Lutsel K'e and has a bumper sticker that says, "Fish control my brain," said fishing in his hometown is never disappointing.

"If you want fish, this is the place to go," he said. "Anywhere you throw in a hook, you're guaranteed to catch a fish."

Sarah Marsh, who nominated Yellowknife, said she thinks Yellowknife is the ultimate fishing destination because of the passionate people who fish in the area, the variety of fish and the accessibility of fishing holes.

"There's something for everyone," she said.

Last year, Port Alberni, BC won the Ultimate Fishing Town title.

This year's winner will be announced June 6.

To vote for Lutsel K'e or Yellowknife as WFN's Ultimate Fishing Town, visit and click on the vote icon

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