Fishing Derby offers $30,000 in prizes

CRESCENT BAR - Participants will have a shot at $30,000 in cash prizes during the Quincy Valley Tourism Association's first annual Northern Pikeminnow Fishing Derby Sept. 24-25 at Crescent Bar.

It was reported in an earlier story that the cash prize total would be $15,000.

According to Debbie Kooy, of the QVTA, there will be 10 tagged fish placed in the Columbia River, and they will be worth a total of $30,000. There will be one $10,000 winner and 4 additional tagged fish worth $5,000 each.

There will be many other cash and non-cash prizes with a total value of approximately $10,000. Winners will be judged by total weight in catch as well as single catch weight.

In the event of a tie, length and time caught may be the deciding factors, Kooy said. Prizes will be awarded in the adult and the juvenile divisions, but you must be 18 years of age to qualify for the tagged fish award.

The derby will take place between Wanapum and Rock Island Dams with headquarters at Crescent Bar. There will be an orientation for contestants at the Crescent Bar public swimming area at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23.

The registration fee for this event is $20 per licensed adult 16 years of age or over. There is no charge for youths under the age of 16, but they must be registered to participate.

Once registered, participants will be able to launch at Crescent Bar, Sunland Estates, Vantage or Frenchman Coulee.

For a full list of the rules and registration forms, please visit on-line at www.quincyvalleytourism.org or call Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce at 509-787-2140 Ext 10.

Registration forms will also be available at Ace Hardware and Gates True Value in Quincy or Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee.

There will also be a registration booth at derby headquarters at Crescent Bar on Friday, Sept. 23, beginning at 4:30 p.m. All entrants must be registered by 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, to be eligible for the cash prizes.