Outdoors Notebook | Salmon derby series reels in anglers

Salmon anglers are gearing up for the Roche Harbor Classic on San Juan Island this Thursday, which kicks off the Northwest Salmon Derby Series sponsored by the Northwest Marine Trade Association [NMTA].

Four years ago, the NMTA looked for a way to build up salmon fishing in Washington through a derby series and hired Tony Floor, a retired state Fish and Wildlife employee, to be its director of fishing affairs.

"The whole purpose of the derby series is to get people excited about going fishing, and staying within the conservation needs by targeting hatchery fish," said Floor.

Floor pitched to the derby organizers that anyone who entered their fishing derbies would also become eligible to win a new boat through a free raffle.

"They literally jumped at the opportunity, because it not only promoted their derbies and gained entries, but we also gave away additional free prizes like gear, hats, shirts, jackets and other prizes," Floor said. "We looked more like Santa Claus when we showed up at these derbies."

During the inaugural season in 2004, the NMTA hooked up with six derbies around Washington, and within three years the series has blossomed to 12. It culminates with the Everett Coho Derby, which organizers have dubbed "the largest derby on the West Coast."

"I don't know of a bigger one than the Everett Coho Derby, one in which 2,700 anglers participated last year [3,046 adult and youth tickets were sold]," Floor said.

The Port Angeles Halibut Derby is the second-largest in the state, and drew about 1,000 anglers last year. The other derbies each lured 300 to 550 anglers.

Last year, there were about 9,000 participants in the entire derby series, and the projected turnout this year calls for 10,000.

"I would say this has grown beyond our expectations in the sense that we want more people to go fishing," said Michael Campbell, president of the NMTA. "The derby series draws attention to fishing, fishing opportunities and conservation. It is also good for the boating industry, which comes back to our core mission."

This year's derby series has also expanded out of state to include the Portland Salmon Quest, May 12 on the Willamette River in Oregon.

"In our discussions with members we'd like to head over the Cascades into Eastern Washington, possibly at places like Lake Chelan," Floor said. "What we are trying to do is to make each derby more and more successful."

To win the grand-prize boats, all an angler needs to do is enter the derby and fill out the raffle ticket. One ticket will be issued per angler per derby. For example, if an angler entered all 12 derbies, his or her name would be entered 12 times, whether a fish was caught or not.

Anglers who place first through fifth at each derby will be awarded three additional tickets. Places six to 10 will receive two additional tickets.

The grand prize this year is a $70,000, 23-foot, center-console-welded aluminum Pacific Boat powered by a Honda 4-stroke motor and galvanized trailer, fully loaded with a Lowrance GPS/depth sounder, stereo system, Scotty electric downriggers, a canvas top and an electric crab-pot puller.

New this year is a kids raffle to win a brand new 14-foot Stabi-craft boat, Suzuki motor and trailer.

Both boats will be raffled off at the Everett Coho Derby on Sept. 22-23. Details: www.discovernorthwestfishing.com.

Notes

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Guest speaker Eli Rico of Hotshot Guide Service will discuss steelhead fishing. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Northend Bassmasters Club meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway in Bothell. Guest speaker is Greg Rockenbach from Greg's Custom Rods, plus a discussion on late winter bass fishing. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

• The Puget Sound Anglers Sno-King meeting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the SCSC Building, 220 Railroad Ave. in Edmonds. Mike Jamboretz of Jambo's Sportfishing will discuss ocean halibut, bottom and salmon fishing. Details: www.psasnoking.com.

• The Washington Butterfly Association is hosting a free presentation with Mary Jo Anderson of the Portland Zoo titled "Back from the Brink of Extinction," 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Center for Urban Horticulture at 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Learn how the Portland Zoo worked with several governmental and environmental agencies to bring back the Oregon Silverspot. Details: 206-364-4935 or www.naba.org/Chapters/nabaws.

• The Northshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre, 17171 Bothell Way N.E. in Lake Forest Park. Mike Benbow of Avid Angler Guide service will discuss fly-fishing opportunities. Details: 206-362-6358 or www.northshoretu.org.

• The Bellevue Fly Fishing Show is Feb. 9-11 at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. 6th St. in Bellevue.

Hours: Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 800-420-7582 or www.flyfishingshow.com.

• The kickoff for the American Lung Association's Climb for Clean Air is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Seattle REI store, 222 Yale Ave. N. Meet mountaineer Lou Whittaker, founder of Rainier Mountaineering Inc., and honorary chairman for the two-day fund-raising climbs on Mount Rainier. Dates are: July 12-13, 13-14, 18-19, 19-20 and 20-21. Details: 206-441-5100 or www.alaw.org.

• The Wild Steelhead Coalition will conduct a benefit auction and dinner Saturday at The Mountaineers club, 300 Third Ave. W. Guest speaker is Steve Probasco, author and editor of Northwest Flyfishing magazine. Cost is $50, due by Jan. 17. Details: 253-759-0477 or www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com