You know that summer is marching along when you start talking about the fish derbies in the region.
And you know that time is really matching on, when you hit the 30th annual Chantry Chinook Classic.
Operated by the Lake Huron Fishing Club, the annual derby has weigh stations at Kincardine, at Saugeen Shores & at Pike Lake.
Over that vast expanse of the lake, anglers will be competing for the heaviest salmon and trout.
This year, the heaviest salmon is worth $ 14,000 while the leader in the trout division will pocket $ 6,000.
Rick Dwinnell of Kincardine is the Derby Committee Chair and he anticipates close to 1,500 anglers will participate in the contest.
Dwinnell admits the numbers are down from the heyday of the derby in the 1980’s and early 90’s, but he believes the fishery is on the rebound.
He expects bigger fish in the years ahead and projects this year’s winner will be in the 18 to 22 pound range.
The 30th annual Chantry Chinook Classic begins Saturday morning and runs through August 11th.
I’m Fred Wallace