We laughed, we cried, we woke up early and fished all day long for three days straight…and then some lucky anglers went home with a pocket full of cash and pile of prizes. It was the 2nd Annual Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby Fish Off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and it was an absolute BLAST.
Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby Fish Off Video Link
Being the only town on Vancouver Island that holds a 4 month long derby with cash and prizes totally over $60,000, Ucluelet has taken sport fishing to a whole new level!
Derby Patrol was able to take photos and video of all the action, providing LIVE blog coverage from the water throughout the entire event. Not every catch was documented from the boats point of view but it just so happens that the top seven were!
Enjoy the photos.
First Place: Rich Allen at 41lbs-9oz
Fishing with Pacific Waters Sport Fishing
Rich Allen traveled all the way from Mount Vernon, Washington to fish in the Fish Off! Thanks for coming Rich (although we are certain you are glad that you did!)
2nd Place: Bill Weber at 41lbs-3oz
Fishing with Albion Charters
Hey Murray, what’s up with the gorilla?
3rd Place: Kenneth Nakagawa at 40lbs-15oz
4th Place: Scott Reed at 38lbs-7oz
This fish was actually the first one called in on Friday morning and the first to be photographed by Derby Patrol. Way to start the competition high Scott! (He was also the first to forget to bring a pen on his boat…Derby Patrol had to float one over in a bucket!)
5th Place: Billy Buhler at 35lbs-7oz
Billy’s guide AJ held up his fish for him because Billy had another bite!
Way to go Billy!
6th Place: Brian Dowell at 34lbs-9oz
Fishing with the Canadian Princess Resort
It looked like the anglers and crew on the Ucluelet Princess were having way to much fun that day!
7th Place: Paul Grimston at 34lbs-1oz
Operator of Castaway Charters
I think the trick here is to stand behind your fish…it looks bigger than Paul!
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Remember that all proceeds of the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby and the the Ucluelet Festival are donated to the Thornton Creek Hatchery. Your support as a corporate sponsor, volunteer, participating angler, and friend is much needed for the 2012 Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby as well. Thank you for helping to raise funds and awareness for salmon enhancement on the west coast!
