The 20th Annual Everett Coho Derby! Leave a reply

Two decades is a long time.

To create and host a fishing event that lasts for two decades and seems to grow every year is a huge accomplishment.

To build the largest salmon derby on the west coast, raise money for local fisheries enhancement and enjoy unquestioned public support is a wonderful accomplishment!

In the twenty-year history of the Everett Coho Derby, the Everett Steelhead & Salmon Club and the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club have formed a partnership to run the derby and also to divide the proceeds. The funds raised by this popular stop on the Northwest Salmon Derby Series support many community events and conservation projects including two major coho enhancement operations (a net pen on the Everett waterfront and an active hatchery), which places over 80,000 fish each year into local waters. The two clubs also stock local lakes with triploid trout, plant high lakes in the Cascades with trout and place salmon carcasses into streams to bolster stream productivity and ultimately salmon nutrition & survival.

Now the Everett Coho Derby has become the final stop on the Northwest Salmon Derby Series which means that each and every year, someone walks away with a $60,000 boat, motor, trailer and electronics package!

The 2013 installment of the Everett Coho Derby was a bit hampered by an unsettled weather system that forced the prize ceremony inside the Bayside Marine drystack!

Nearly 1800 tickets were sold for this event and it looks like nearly everyone who bought a ticket showed up on Sunday afternoon!

Tony Floor of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series has the crowds attention as he announces the Grand Prize winner of the $60,000 Derby Series boat while Master of Ceremonies Mark Spada (right) looks on.

Tony Floor congratulates Jason Edwards, Arlington, for winning the 2013 NW Salmon Derby Series grand prize boat. Jason competed in the Harbor Marine Salmon Tournament in Everett, last July.

In total there were 1854 adult tickets sold and 216 child tickets given away for a total of 2070 anglers signed up for this event, making it the biggest salmon derby on the West Coast.  Not bad when you consider the humble beginnings in 1993.

In the youth division, the first place prize of $100 went to Dean Fagan who caught an 11.13 pound Coho on eggs at Haller Park on the Stillaguamish River.

The top prize fish weighed 15.50 pounds and was caught at the “Horse Shoe” on the East side of the Possession Bar.  This fish gave Don Pittman the $10,000 first prize donated by Everett Bayside Marine, Harbor Marine, John’s Sporting Goods and Performance Marine.

The second place money of $5,000 donated by the Everett Salmon Association went to Hut Phanhthavilay who caught a 14.20 pound fish on a Dick Nite spoon near the 522 bridge on the Snohomish River.

Third place and $2,500 donated by Dick Nite Spoons, Silver Horde, Ted’s Sports Center and Greg’s Custom Rods went to Dylan Alexander for his 14.19 pound fish also on a Dick Nite spoon on the lower Skykomish River.

The last cash prize of $1,000 Donated by Roy Robinson Chevrolet/ Subaru went to Gary Tisdale Sr. who fished Possession Bar with Silver Horde gear.  The top merchandise prize, a Cannon Downrigger, went to Curt Wikel at 13.91 on the Snohomish River with a Wiggle Wart.

See you on the Northwest Salmon Derby Series trail and good luck out there!

 Tom Nelson                                                                                                                      The Outdoor Line                                                                                 www.theoutdoorline.com                                                                                                 710 ESPN Seattle