ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Helena Timbre's 16-pound jackfish held up for more than a week, but on the second-last day of competition, her achievement was equaled.

Manny Vital holds a 16-pound jackfish he pulled from Fisherman Lake on April 16, along with a 12-pound jackfish caught by Joachim Klondike. Vital's 16-pound fish put him in a first-place tie with Helena Timbre in the biggest jackfish category at the annual Fort Liard Fishing Derby.

As a result, Timbre and Manny Vital shared the top prize for the biggest jackfish at the Fort Liard Fishing Derby, held over two weekends on April 9 to 10 and April 16 to 17.

Janna Deneron, who organized the event with the support of the Ache Dene Koe First Nation, said 50 to 60 anglers and spectators made the trip out to Fisherman Lake for the first weekend of the annual event.

"It went really well last weekend," said Deneron on April 15, adding there was a bit of overflow on the trail, meaning the Ski-Doo ride to the lake took about an hour, as opposed to the typical 30 to 45 minutes.

Deneron said the second weekend wasn't as well attended, because the temperature had dropped.

"It was cooler than it was last week," she said on April 18.

Helicopters also brought elders from the community out to the lake.

Timbre, who has a cabin on Bovie Lake, said she does a lot of ice-fishing but has never caught anything as big as her 16-pound derby winner. She said, initially, she wasn't sure she'd even be able to bring up the fish.

"At first, when I pulled it up, it just went back into the water really fast," she said.

Timbre said she thought she lost the fish, but she got a surprise when she pulled her line back up.

"The fish was right there," she said. "I pulled with all my might and the fish came out. It was funny, with a fish that big, I thought it took my hook."

Just prior to Timbre's catch, Deneron said another competitor had hauled in a 12-pound jackfish.

She said the man thought he had won the event until Timbre landed her fish, 10 minutes later.

"They all came running to check out my fish," said Timbre.

"For me, it was just like a dream. I had to pinch myself to realize that it was real."

However, on April 16, Manny Vital caught a 16-pound jackfish during the derby's second weekend, meaning he and Timbre split the top prize - 45 gallons of gasoline.

"I got all excited. I didn't know I was going to get a tie with another person," laughed Timbre.

Deneron said the 16-pound jackfish were bigger compared to last year's.

Hillary Deneron took home the biggest pickerel of the derby at six pounds.

In the kids' categories, Abby Duntra and Madison Capot Blanc tied for first place, both pulling up jackfish of eight pounds. Julianne Klondike caught the biggest pickerel at one and a half pounds.

Roy Bertrand also managed to catch a four-and-a-half-pound whitefish, which Janna said was "very odd."

Timbre said she had a really good time at the derby.

"It is something to look forward to and the prizes are awesome," she said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.