Tournament History

The Third Annual Vern Harrington Memorial Silver Salmon Derby is now into the history books. The Silver Salmon fisheries were a little tough on the Anchor River during the 36 hour marathon derby. At one time, the Wolf Clan, Bear Clan, Eagle Clan and a un-documented clan were fishing the same spot in hopes of taking that big derby winner. The Grand Poopah set the trend early in the morning by catching and releasing his second Steelhead Trout of the season, a nice example of the specie, most likely weighing in the 12 to 15 pound range. The only Silver Salmon taken in this initial push in the derby was landed by Papa Bear. Despite the slower than normal fishing, the Wolf Clan and Eagle Clan dedicated themselves to the task and fished right up to the expiration time of the tournament which was at noon on Sunday. This years winner, a second time he has won the Tournament was Daddy Bear with a small specimen of the specie. Being that it was Sunday, the Post Office was not open so we could weigh the fish, we could find no other scales in the area that would measure the weight is such small increments, we thought perhaps a postage scale may give us an accurate reading. Daddy Bear consented that instead of going by weight, he would settle for a measurement. the winner Silver Salmon measured in at 18.5 inches with an estimated weight of less than two pounds which is about a half pound larger than the fish in which he won the 1st Annual Derby so at a minimum he has set a record for having the smallest two winners in the Tournament, unlike that big 15.5 pounder that took the derby last year. As a side bar, the Silvers have moved into the river in better numbers, fished this evening, four fish on the tide back out with one buck that was pushing if not exceeding the 13 pound mark.