Fish derby a whale of a time
Fort Simpson fishers hook onto big ones
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 9, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
June 28 was a day of hard fishing for seven competing teams on the Mackenzie River but there was nothing fishy about the result.
Aaron Donahue, left, joined Perry Rowe, Gordon Thompson, Sheldon Brown, Ray Minue and Roger Pilling in showing off a day of hard work on the Mackenzie River. Although Thompson was part of a different team, an extra pair of hands was welcome in displaying their catch. - April Hudson/NNSL photos
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Teams lined up in the morning to set sail for what recreation co-ordinator Nathan McPherson is calling Fort Simpson's first annual fishing derby, trawling the depths of the river in an effort to lure the biggest fish of the day.
Prizes were given out for jackfish and pickerel, both won by the very last team to return to the dock.
The team, comprised of Aaron Donahue, Perry Rowe, Sheldon Brown, Ray Minue and Roger Pilling, came in just under the wire before 4:30 p.m. hit and marked the end of the competition.
They brought with them a 9.75-pound jackfish and a 3.25-pound pickerel, blowing the previous record of 5.75 pounds and one pound, respectively, out of the water. Pilling and Brown made first place for the jackfish, and Brown also snagged second place with the pickerel.
The winning team took home four fish each from their day's exploits. Rowe said the fishing was fantastic.
"We were mostly fishing up around Rabbitskin," Rowe said, although he declined to give away the exact location of the lucrative fishing spot.
The event concluded with a draw. McPherson doled out prizes, including a propane grill stove, a cooler and small cash prizes for the winners.
"I was happy with the number of participants, especially since this is the first (derby)" said McPherson.
Gordon Thompson, who grew up in Fort Simpson, said the event was great. By no means an avid fisherman, Thompson spent the day out on the water with his team members and brought in the second-largest fish of the derby.
"This was maybe my seventh or eighth time fishing," Thompson said.
Rowe said the most successful hooks his team used were Mr. Twisters, the same type of hook Thompson had been using.
