Sponsored by Detroit Lake
Recreation Area Business Assoc.
May 15-17
6 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday and
Saturday 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday
Awards Ceremony
Sunday, May 17, 3 p.m.
Cost: $15 adults,
$8 children 13 and younger
Information: DetroitLakeOregon.org
By Mary Owen
Grab your poles!
The fish will be biting at the annual Detroit Lake Fishing Derby on May 15-17.
“The water will be up, the docks will be floating, and all events are a Big Green Go,” said spokesperson Bob Franz of the annual event that draws about 3,000 visitors every year.
Sponsored by the Detroit Lake Recreation Area Business Association, the fishing derby will take place Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17. Sign-ups are at the Detroit City Hall, and prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 17.
“The highlight for me is seeing the kids get excited about winning something,” said Dean O’Donnell, DLRABA member. “We always give away a girl’s and boy’s bicycle. It’s not based on the largest fish. When they register, they get a ticket to win the various prizes.”
The grand prize for adults who register is a 14-foot Smoker Craft fishing boat donated by Riverview Community Bank, EZ Loader and Steven’s Marine.
Grand prizes are drawn from tickets given to people when they sign up, and participants may register for all three days for one ticket or as many times as they want and get a ticket for each registration, officials said.
“A second raffle is won with fish tickets given out to participants when they produce the fish they have caught and get the tails clipped,” Franz said.
Limited to 15 tickets per punch card (up to five per day), the fish tickets are good for boys, girls and adult prizes, Franz said.
Participants can also buy tickets for a drawing for many more prizes, including fishing poles and more bikes for the kids, Franz said.
“Seventy-five winners will walk away with a fish net filled with goodies,” Franz said. “And people must be present to win.”
All entrants buying $5 worth of tickets will be given a jar of Pautzke bait, while quantities last, O’Donnell said.
The first 750 entrants will also get a free “Fishing Derby” hat, he added.
DLRABA charges adults $15 and children 13 and under $8 to participate in the derby.
Cash prizes – one $100 tag and nine $50 tags – will be given for catching tagged fish brought to the registration table at City Hall. Fish clipping stations will be open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
The fishing derby, which organizers say is “very family oriented,” kicks off the summer season at Detroit Lake, a popular recreation spot about a 45-minute drive from Stayton, east along Highway 22.
The event is the Detroit/Idanha fundraiser for the city’s annual Independence Day celebration, “Fireworks at the Lake,” to be held this year on Saturday, July 11. Also coming up are two new summer events: A Dam Good Time Wake Board Amateur Competition on June 13-14 and the Detroit Lake Water Ski Show on July 25-26.
To become a sponsor, donate prizes, or for information about the Fishing Derby, e-mail O’Donnell at [email protected] or call 503-854-3696.
