Hanford Reach derby results

Starfish · 09-07-2005, 05:21 AM

(Approved by ifish administration)

Here�s an opportunity to try fishing some beautiful water while supporting a worthy cause. The Knights of Columbus in Richland, WA are proud to host the tenth annual KC/Tri-Cities Prep Salmon Derby. For only $25 (adults) or $10 (children 12 and under) you can support Tri-Cities Prep, the Catholic high school in Pasco, WA�while catching Chinook salmon, in either the Columbia or Yakima rivers.

As usual, the big weekend � October 1-2�includes some great prizes including $1000 cash for the biggest fish, plus cash and merchandise prizes for the 2nd through 5th largest fish, a randomly selected �mystery fish�, and the highest total �tournament weight� for the two days. Special prizes are also available for the kids. But the big news is that again this year, you can enter early and win some great weekly prizes too! Starting September 3, prizes for the biggest fish caught by adults and children will be given for each of the four weeks leading up to the main event� all for the same low entry price that qualifies you for the big derby weekend.

You can enter by visiting local sporting goods stores in the Tri-Cities or Desert Aire, Washington� or by mailing entry information � name, address, and phone (and age of any children entrants) along with the entry fee � to KC/TCP Salmon Derby, 1957 Marshall Ave, Richland, WA 99354. For more information you can visit the derby website at http://www.kc3307.org/derby.htm

If you have questions about fishing the Hanford Reach feel free to post a question and I�ll respond to everyone, or PM me if you prefer. Thanks for your support� all proceeds go to benefit the school.

(update and pics are later in the post)

Starfish · 09-10-2005, 08:35 AM

Well, the first week of the derby went fairly slowly as should be expected with the first fish of the season now arriving in the Reach. The good news is that there are a few nice fish being caught right now and they're in prime shape. The bad news is that each of my buddies that caught fish were "gonna" enter the derby but hadn't yet, and so no fish were weighed in for the weekly prize. That's right, any of the couple of dozen fish caught during the past week could have been worth $100 but there were no takers. Of course most of those folks are now entered so next week will be another story!

So far the fish caught around here have been a mixed bag of all the usual techniques. Plug-cut herring, baitwrapped kwiks, eggs, and mag warts have all accounted for a few fish. With over 30K fish past McNary now, things should heat up this week and start getting really good by next weekend. I'll try it tomorrow and post an update.

Starfish · 09-23-2005, 08:46 PM

Things are really starting to pick up in the Reach. 88,000+ salmon have crossed McNary Dam and they're finally spread throughout the Reach. The best fishing still seems to be in the lower stretches (Ringold to Wahluke) but Verita has started producing some nice fish too.

The first week of the derby had no winners, but week two's $100 weekly winner was Skip Fowler with a 40 pounder. I haven't confirmed yet but the week 3 winner looks like a 33 pounder. We still haven't had any youth entries weigh in fish for the weekly prizes... I hope some kids start catching some fish this week!

Today I took a few friends fishing at Vernita. My friend Bill's son from Georgia tried his hand at salmon fishing for the first time and scored with a 32 pound hen on an M2SP:

Then Bill got two back-to-back smaller fish, one buck and one hen (one mag wart and one M2SP):

After Brad caught and released a beautiful big wild steelhead, it was Jerry's turn with a nice little buck. I didn't take a picture because it looked pretty dark, but all four salmon cut up great, with one grocery-store quality.

We had a great day on the water, including two other takedowns on K15/jet divers that didn't stay stuck.
Time to go get ready to hit it again tomorrow!

Hey-- I think this is my 500th post!

Hanapa'a Time · 09-23-2005, 08:50 PM

You guys had a great day

Thanks for sharing Don

Been able to put that rod to use yet

HOOKUP · 09-23-2005, 09:55 PM

Congrats!

Are you flat lining those M2SP's?

I have only got 1 in a decent color, they go fast!

Starfish · 09-24-2005, 03:44 AM

Quote:

You guys had a great day

Thanks for sharing Don

Been able to put that rod to use yet

The rod's working great except for the fish bonking part! It's been quiet so far but I KNOW it's going to put some fish in the boat this year.

Starfish · 09-24-2005, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Congrats!

Are you flat lining those M2SP's?

I have only got 1 in a decent color, they go fast!

Yeah, just flatlining them. I have a buddy that has bonked three fish this year running Double Trouble on a jet diver, but all of ours have come on a flatlined metallic chartreuse/green one that looks just like an eyeFISH kwik.

The Stallion · 09-24-2005, 06:50 AM

Nice day, nice fish, nice cause!

Starfish · 09-24-2005, 08:28 PM

We hit the Reach again today until noon and had a great time. I started out by bonking the first fish (sorry, forgot to take a pic), about 20 lbs, on an M2SP. Jubal lost a small one at the boat on eggs, but the consolation prize was that Bill hooked his fish on a diver/kwik just a few minutes later:

It took another few hours, but at noon on the last pass Bill's son Brad hooked up on a K16/downrigger. Here's my new boat pup Georgie admiring his fish:

The fish are starting to look fairly dark on the outside, but the meat is still looking great for the smoker:

grsteelies · 09-24-2005, 09:06 PM

Hey star, Are you wrapping those m2's, or just plan?

HVACGuy · 09-24-2005, 09:34 PM

We fished 300 area AM and hit one fish but lost at the boat. Kind of a run up trip for the new motor. Went to Parking lot 7 in the PM and again stuck 2 that we never saw. Kind of a bad oman to have so many hits and no real fight...one spun the rod holder around in the stars, I just about freaked I've never had one hit that hard before, picked up the rod had about 6 turns and a couple head shakes and gone like the wind. Heafty fish for sure...
Big problem AM was the Salad, the level was perfect but the Corps must have been cleaning the screens at Priest. Then in the PM the level was down about 4 feet, not enough current in my special spot to get the right presentation. We found the current 1/4 mile down stream and thats were the fish were. A couple of snaffoos in the boat only allowed us 2 good passes through and we hit the one fish there. Hundreds jumping. I've got to figure out how to catch a steelhead up there, that would really balance things up...

We're done for the weekend, hope you all have a great Sunday!

HVACGuy

Starfish · 09-25-2005, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Hey star, Are you wrapping those m2's, or just plan?

Baitwrapped. They carry a wrap pretty well, about the size you would use for a K13.

You'll want to change out the hooks. The stock hooks are really soft.

grsteelies · 09-25-2005, 08:58 AM

Roger that Star. I put those 2x owners and replace the little snap as well. I'll be there wed, thurs, fri this week around the ranch area. Keep it up!

lightning · 09-27-2005, 06:37 PM

No pics (was too excited) but finally got Nooky blood and slime in my new, used boat Sunday. Just in time for 5 possible derby entries. 3 were caught on M2SPs. They were wrapped with the secret formula sardines that Starfish made me promise to divulge only under threat of death. Derby weekend is Oct 1&2. Myself and my boat are warmed up now. I feel MOJO building to a peak next weekend.

Starfish · 09-29-2005, 05:56 AM

Last chance! The main derby event is this weekend.

Last week's weekly prize winners (week ending Friday 9/23) were Rich Ozanich with a 33 pounder and 9-year-old Frankie Morales with a 32 pounder.

We fished for a couple of hours yesterday morning and found the bite to be really slow. I caught a 20 lb bright hen on a mag wart and we saw one other fish caught, down at B/C and K reactors. However, I heard that the egg bite turned on in a few places and one boat came in with seven fish. Guess I was in the wrong place! Also the afternoon bite has been pretty good lately and we had to be off the water by 11am... :depressed:

rola76 · 09-29-2005, 08:39 AM

Right on man...looks like you're into 'em!! I'll PM you with an update.

Congrats!

Starfish · 09-29-2005, 10:08 PM

Tough bite for many folks from what I heard today (I had to work :depressed

but the fish were there if you worked at it. One of my buddies got skunked, two got two each, one got three adults and a jack, and another got four adults and a jack.

Kwiks were still the best bite among my buddies, but they got a few on eggs too.

I can't fish until Saturday so let's hear some more reports!

Starfish · 10-02-2005, 10:06 PM

Here is a press release for the salmon derby results. The bite was fairly tough this weekend but there were fish to be had. We kind of stunk it up with two for four Saturday and one for two Sunday. Some of my buddies did pretty well. Great thanks go to the prize donors for the derby-- Motyka's Bait and Tackle in Richland, Sportsmans Warehouse in Kennewick, Pollywog's in Desert Aire, Folbe Products, G. Loomis, John Bloom of Pacific Northwest Plastics, and Bruce and Julie Gradisher.

--------------PRESS RELEASE-----------------

Almost 150 anglers participated in this weekend�s 10th Annual KC/Tri-Cities Prep Salmon Derby, which was held in Richland, Washington October 1-2, 2005. The charity event raises funds for Tri-Cities Prep, the Catholic high school in Pasco, WA. The participants competed for thousands of dollars worth of cash and merchandise while catching over 70 fall Chinook salmon.

Stan Lockard of Kennewick landed the big one and earned $1000 cash for his 34.74 pound salmon. Second place went to Bruce Morgan of Deer Park with 29.62 pounds. Third place winner Mike Freed of Richland caught a 28.00 pounder. Fourth place was 26.74 pounds, caught by Garrett Noah of Chatteroy. Bill Lewis of Kennewick caught a fifth place winner weighing 26.12 pounds. Richland youth Hunter Mulderig landed a 25.82 pounder that netted sixth place overall and first place for the youth division. The tournament prize for 2-day total weight went to Brian Bourghs of Walla Walla with 67.74 pounds, and the randomly selected �mystery fish� prize went to Matt Rheinschmidt of Richland for his 20.46 pounder.

In the youth division, second place went to Frankie Morlas with 17.36 pounds. Third and fifth place went to Ian Lewis of Richland with 16.16 and 15.50 pounds. Fourth place was a 15.84-pounder caught by Richland�s Trevor McBride. Sixth place was Adam Lewis� 14.22 pounder, and Samuel Lewis got seventh and eighth place with 13.26 and 12.32 pounds.

---------------END PRESS RELEASE---------------

Contact Don McBride (509-947-1489) for more information.

RiverMan · 10-03-2005, 09:59 AM

Did the "total weight" winner get paid anything? Brian is a good friend of mine, he won the tourney two years ago.

RM

Starfish · 10-03-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Did the "total weight" winner get paid anything? Brian is a good friend of mine, he won the tourney two years ago.

RM

Yes, he did-- I sent his winnings home with Skip Fowler to give to Brian.

RiverMan · 10-03-2005, 12:44 PM

Thx.

Brian and I fished together all the time, he's a good friend of mine. Skip is the "captain" of that team tho, he really knows the Reach and seems to put them on fish every year. The last three trips Brian and I made up there by ourselves we didn't catch a single chinook, lol.

RM