Don Deforest, long time chair of the derby, left,  Curtis Leyenaar, centre, present Doug Tilley, committee member, the 'Spirit of Jake' award during the annual Sproat Loggers' fishing derby.

Don Deforest, long time chair of the derby, left, Curtis Leyenaar, centre, present Doug Tilley, committee member, the 'Spirit of Jake' award during the annual Sproat Loggers' fishing derby.

Loggers’ derby draws close to 500 anglers to Alberni Inlet

The annual Sproat loggers’ fishing derby was held at Poett Nook Marina early March

The 30th annual Sproat Lake Loggers’ Winter-Spring Derby was held at Poett Nook Marina, down the Alberni Inlet, the first weekend in March.

At its inception, the winter-spring derby saw only about 40 participants. Today the fishing weekend hails close to 480 anglers from as far as California.

With the help from the late Jake Leyenaar, retired logger Don Deforest, was one of the originators to get the derby started.

The derby has turned from a handful of guys into a large family event. Originally attracting only a group of men, families started camping there for the weekend and bringing their children on the boats.

The memory of Leyenaar was honoured with a special award this year.

During the weekend, $2510 was raised, through raffle sales, that will go to the McLean Mill Hatchery, something Leyenaar was passionate about for many years.

 

Alberni Valley News