Come Sunday morning there will be hundreds of people down at the end of the wharf at Marine Park.
They will be taking part in the 17th Annual Salmon Arm Kid’s Fishing Derby.
A popular item on the community calendar, the derby is open to children 12 years and under.
There is no cost to enter the derby that is hosted by City of Salmon Arm Leisure Services.
Registration takes place Sunday morning, June 16, beginning at 6 a.m. at the end of the wharf.
The only restrictions are that each child must be accompanied by an adult and must wear a life-jacket or PFD. Six certified lifeguards are on duty throughout the event. Some life-jackets are available for children who do not have one.
Only coarse fish are eligible for trophies and prizes and fish must be caught and reeled in by the child, but an adult may assist in netting a fish.
An awards ceremony will take place immediately following the derby, with trophies and major prizes handed out.
The winner of the derby will receive the Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union W. J. (Bill) Murray Memorial Trophy, an IM-6 graphite rod- and-reel outfit and a $200 R.E.S.P. education bond. As well, they will get to take their whole family on an all-expenses-paid weekend fishing trip to Beaver Lake Lodge, which will include accommodations, boat and motor, and $100 worth of groceries.
Second- and third- place winners will receive trophies, rod-and reel-outfits and education bonds.
The lucky angler who lands the first fish of the derby will receive the Westside Stores Trophy, a rod- and-reel outfit, a $100 Rotary Club-sponsored education bond and a $100 gift certificate from Westside Stores.
Two anglers who catch fish closest to predetermined “secret weights” will have their names inscribed on the Canadian Tire Trophy, and will win a brand new mountain bike.
The angler who manages to catch the most fish will receive the City of Salmon Arm Trophy, a rod-and-reel outfit, a $100 Rotary Club-sponsored education bond and a one-year pass to the swimming pool.
There are also many other great prizes given out throughout the derby.
Adults receive one parent appreciation draw ticket for each child they register. At the awards ceremony, one lucky person will win a fully decked-out barbecue with all the accessories, as well as $100 worth of groceries.
And don’t forget the School District #83 Fishing Story Contest, sponsored by the Salmar Theatre, that is held in conjunction with the derby.
Students from elementary schools in the area are invited to submit an original fishing story – true or far-fetched – to their teacher.
The winner of the Best Fishing Story receives a $100 education bond and a one-year pass to the movies. As well, everyone in their class gets a one-time movie pass.
