Chamber to offer fishing derby in April

The chamber of commerce is sponsoring the “Are You Tough Enough” First Annual Banks Lake Triple Fish Challenge, April 6-7, out of Coulee Playland.

The two-day event features a fishing derby for smallmouth bass, walleye, and rainbow trout and has two age categories, 0-14 years of age and adults.

So dust off your rod and reel, read up on the contest, and get your 2013 fishing license so you are all set for the big event.

Grand prize is an Achilles 4-person inflatable boat and Yamaha outboard motor.

There are other prizes, including money, so there will be lots of winners, chamber officials stated.

It works like this. Anglers will try to catch one smallmouth bass, one walleye, and one rainbow trout each day. The fish will be weighed and fishers will accumulate the weights over the two days toward the grand prize and other prizes.

Prizes will be given for the big fish in each species each day; total stringer weight each day; and total combined heaviest six fish for the two days.

Registration started Feb. 1 and will continue until midnight, March 31. On-site registration will begin Friday, April 5, from 5-7 p.m. and continue through boat inspection on Saturday, April 6, from 6-8 p.m.

Blast off will be at 9 a.m. each day and the weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. each day.

Professional sponsors of the two-day fishing derby include Bob Feil Boats & Motors of Wenatchee, Yakima Bait, Berkley Catch More Fish, the CW Bass Club, and Don Graybill, the Fishin’ Magician.

More details on the fishing derby are available through the chamber office, (509) 633-3074, or Coulee Playland, (509) 633-2671 and at the chamber’s website at grandcouleedam.org.