Contributing writer for The Canyon Weekly
Grab your poles!
The fish are biting at Detroit Lake, and locals are invited to cast their lines at the upcoming annual Detroit Lake Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Detroit Lake Recreation Area Business Association.
“We’ve got a ton of fun planned for the participants,” organizers said. “We hope to see you at the lake!”
Organizers expect more than 1,000 adults and children to participate in the event, held 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 19-20 and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by an award ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 21. The entry fee for adults is $25 and children 13 and under, $20, with an online registration fee for both. No early check-ins will be allowed, and the first 400 registrants will receive a free hat.
Sign-up now online at www.eventbrite.com. Bring your ticket/online confirmation to the registration area at the two-bay fire station to receive a punch card. In-person registration will take place at the station, 345 Santiam Ave. in Detroit.
When finished fishing for the day, take your catch for the day to the fish clipping station at registration area, Kane’s Marina, or Detroit Lake Marina to be clipped. The marinas also sponsor catch and release.
Catch two Kokanee for one punch on the fish punch card and one rainbow trout are one fish equals one punch. Entrants will receive a raffle ticket for each fish up to 5 tickets. Bring the card back each day, catch more fish, turn them in, get the card punched and receive more raffle tickets (up to 5 per day). The maximum number of tickets per card is 15.
Fish clipping stations will open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Organizers ask that people get fish in by 2 p.m. on Sunday to allow volunteers to clean up before the awards ceremony.
Ways to win include a 14-and-over adult prize category and a 13-and-under child prize category for the largest fish caught as well as a daily prize for the largest fish caught each day. Sunday prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for the weekend.
The grand prize for adults is a Smoker Craft fishing boat with a motor and for the winning child, a bicycle. Register once for all three days and receive one ticket for the grand prize drawing or register as many times as you want to receive a ticket for the grand prize drawing for each registration.
At the event, DLRABA members will sell raffle tickets for donated items, which can be viewed near the registration booth.
Platinum level sponsors include: Hillyer’s Ford, Riverview Bank and Pautzke’s Bait Co. Allied Rock, LLC, has signed on as a gold level sponsor, Siegmund Excavation & Construction as a boat sponsor, and The Lodge at Detroit Lake as a bike sponsor.
The weekend of fun, food and music will once again have Oregon Beverage Services, Howlin’ Bad Dogs and several other vendors along with Korner Burgers and Suzy’s Taqueria. Toby Worthington and The Fabulous Bad Cats will perform live music on Friday in the park.
The fishing derby, which organizers claim is “very family oriented,” kicks off the summer season at Detroit Lake, a popular recreation spot about an hour’s drive from Salem, east along Hwy. 22.
The event is the Detroit/Idanha fundraiser for the city’s annual Independence Day celebration, Fireworks at the Lake, to be held this year on June 30-July 3. The celebration kicks off with a Party in the Park fundraiser on Friday followed by food, beverages, fun vendors, live music, an auction, a car show, golf cart parade, family kickball game, and fireworks. A pancake feed will take place with proceeds to benefit the Idanha-Detroit Fire Department.
To become a sponsor or for more information about the Detroit Lake Fishing Derby or other events, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.detroitlakeoregon.org.
Detroit Lake Fishing Derby
Sponsored by DLRABA
May 19-21
6 a.m. –5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday
3 p.m.– Sunday May 21 Awards Ceremony
Cost: $25 adults, $20 children 13 and under
