Fishing derby attracts all ages
TRENTON Ont (08/05/2011) Bayside resident 12 year old Hunter Triemstra stands by his fish he entered at the Kiwanis walleye world-fishing derby. Triemstra has been fishing the derby for three years and this is the first time he enetered a fish. He bought his ticket in March after saving money doing odd jobs such as babysitting, cutting lawns, and cleaning boats. Photo by Linda Horn
By Linda Horn
Hunter Triemstra, a 12-year-old Bayside resident, was so excited to be in the Walleye World fishing derby he bought his ticket in March.
Triemstra spent his time babysitting and cleaning boats in order to save enough money for his ticket. This is his third year in the derby and he entered his first fish this year. He didn’t place on the leader board but was “very excited” to be able to enter a fish.
The 31st annual Kiwanis Walleye World fishing derby was held last weekend in Trenton. It was a “huge success” according to the derby’s chairman Kevin Weaver.
The approximate number of fishing enthusiasts for this year’s derby was “around 4500,” Weaver said.
The derby kicked off on May 7 at 12:01 a.m, and ran until the weigh stations closed at 4 p.m on May 8. The main headquarters was at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Arena in Trenton. Weigh stations were located all around the Bay of Quinte.
Participants could bring their walleye and pike catches to any of these stations to be considered for the derby’s prizes. Prizes went to the top 10 weights in the Senior Pike and Walleye categories. The junior anglers were given prizes for top five weights in the same categories.
Don Moulton from Kingston took home top prize for the Senior Walleye with his 12.8-pound catch. Moulton walked away with a 16-foot Lund Fury Tiller, 25 horsepower, Mercury 4 stroke motor, trailer, bow mount trolling motor and fish finder package.
“I have been fishing this derby for three years and have always placed in the top in 10,” said Moulton.
To make things interesting for all who registered for the derby, sponsors of the derby tagged 150 fish. Each tagged fish was worth different dollar amounts with the top amount being $20,000. Only one of the tagged fish was caught, worth $1,000.
The Kiwanis club also offered a hidden weight category. The hidden weight was for walleye weighing between three and six pounds. The anglers were then entered into a lottery. The club hoped this would get more people excited about entering a fish in the derby.
Tents and trailers could be seen all over the Trenton area. Many of the participants have been coming back for years.
Jamie Fudge, who entered, three walleyes, has been coming to the derby for 16 years. Corbin Crawford, 21, has been attending since he was six.
The derby also included speakers, vendors, and a food tent. One of the big draws to Walleye World was the 50-foot fish tank. Walleye World is a live release event. After weighing the fish, spectators could view them in the giant fish tank. According to Owen Kimond, former Kiwanis Walleye World co-chair, the bigger fish are kept up to 12 hours in the tank, then released back into the Bay of Quinte.
For a list of this year winners and more information about Kiwanis Walleye World go to www.kiwaniswalleyeworld.com
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