Catching the big one

Fisherman Reid Warren says he’s addicted to catching salmon.

Warren has participated in the annual Salmon Derby for eight years but never came in first place. He came close a few times and one year caught an 18 pound salmon. That fish didn’t make him the winner but it was a catch he said he fought hard for.

He put his rod back into the water for the second annual Week Long Salmon Fun Derby. The derby, which started on Saturday, had fishermen catching fish all across Lake Superior. By the end of the first day, Warren caught two seven-pound salmon and two smaller ones that weighted around five and four pounds each.

He said he’s always enjoyed fishing in the derby.

“It was a beautiful day on the water, the fishing was good,” Warren said. “What keeps me coming back is the salmon. The salmon fishing is excellent. The salmon are hard to catch for number one and when you get one on your line it is a good fight. It just seems like it gets in your blood.”

More than 300 boats registered for the derby. Warren said he hoped to land a big one this year and take home the top prize of $3,500.

Doug Lund, president of the Thunder Bay Salmon Association, said it was a good start to the derby with the biggest fish caught so far about seven pounds. Lund said someone caught an 18 pound salmon yesterday but unfortunately, only salmon caught during the derby count.

With so many people fishing, the competition is fierce, he said
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“A day out on the water fishing beats a day at work,” Lund said. “I expect an 18 pound salmon to be weighed in. The competition is fierce. Everyone wants to get their name on the trophy and win the big money.”

Tickets for the derby cost $65 with dinner and $50 without admission to the Moose Hall. Tickets for juniors 14 years old or under cost $40 and $25. Tickets are available at J and J Sports, Woody’s Trailer World, Archie’s Fishing Charters, D and R sporting Goods, Badanai Motors, Minute Muffler and Lockstone.

Proceeds for the event go to the Thunder Bay Salmon Association.

Weigh in stations change each day. The salmon derby lasts until July 23.