The Weyburn Wildlife Federation is taking advantage of this warmer March weather with their 4th annual Fish Derby this Saturday, March 15th. Anglers from the southeast will converge at Mainprize Lake Saturday afternoon trying to catch the biggest Pike, Perch, or Walleye with prizes on the line. Weyburn Wildlife Federation’s Vice President, Troy Kincaid, is excited to take advantage of the nice weather and get some fishing in.
“This is the fourth year of the (derby at) Mainprize, we also do one at Nickle Lake, but this year was cancelled due to cold weather. Hopefully it shouldn't be the case this weekend with all this nice weather coming around, we’ve had a good turn out so far over the last four years. Between 80 and 100 people, roughly, depending on the weather."
Prizes on the line for biggest fish caught, $400 each for biggest Pike, Perch, and Walleye. There are also youth prizes of $100 for the same three fish species. There will be a 50/50 available, 3 tickets for $10. Cost for the fishing is $30 a hole, $50 for 2 holes, and $20 per hole for ages 15 and under. Registration is available at Mainprize Lake the day of the event.
There are some rules associated with the Fishing Derby, ensuring the safety of both the anglers and the fish. Kincaid explains some of the rules in place to help make this a fun experience for all anglers.
“You must have a valid Saskatchewan fishing license or be aged 15 and under or hold a Treaty card. You must have a pail and water in it so that if you catch a fish, you can put the fish in it to bring it over to the weight station, that way you're not compromising the fish's health (because) it is a catch and release derby. Pop-up shelters are welcome, we don't like the hard wall ones because it can get a bit congested, but you're more than welcome to bring your tent or your flip over and stay warm.”
For more details and information about the 4th annual Fish Derby this Saturday, contact Troy Kincaid at (306) 861-7673 or Jeff Chinski at (306) 458-2457. Also, make sure to follow the Weyburn Wildlife Federation’s Facebook page to stay updated on their events.