ROCHE HARBOR

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FISHING COMPETITIONS

2007

Simms wins $10K in fishing derby; Holman $5K

A couple of firsts for Einar-Barr Fishing Classic

2006

Lawson lands derby winner in 'nasty' conditions

A couple of firsts for Einar-Barr Fishing Classic

2005

Angler wins Nielsen/Barr by 1 ounce - 21th Annual Einar Nielsen/Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Classic

Bellingham man hooks $10,000 anniversary, birthday gift- second Annual Salmon Classic Invitational

Russ Lett leads Roche Harbor derby

2004

Anglers vying for $10K prize - Roche Harbor Village first Annual Salmon Classic Invitational

Einar's kin wins derby
20th Annual Einar Nielsen/Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Classic

2003

19th Annual Einar Nielsen-Becky Barr Memorial Fishing Derby

Opel's 19-pound chinook leads Roche Harbor Classic after 1 day

posted 02/08/2008
Randy Opel of Arlington reeled in a 19.14-pound king to lead the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Friday, Feb. 9. A record 72 salmon were caught during the first day of the two-day derby.

"I knew it was going to be an contender," Opel said of the fish caught toward the south end of San Juan Island.

"I was surprised it didn't have an adipose fin," Opel of the hatchery king. (Natural-run chinook must be released.)

Damon Peterson's 15.4 chinook is second on the leader board. Richard Price is in third place with a 15.0 fish and Benjamin Jacobs is fourth with a 14.8-pounder.

Most of the anglers were smiling as they munched on hot dogs after weighing their fish.

"We had fish on all day,"" said Opel's fishing partner Pat Garrison. "It was crazy."

"You can fish all day and get nothing but when you have one of these days it makes it all worthwhile," the skipper of U-Betcha! said.

Miller and Rinker lead the best boat total with 46 pounds, 11 ounces.

Simms wins $10K in fishing derby; Holman $5K

posted 02/11/2007
Mike Simms of Roche Harbor weighed in his 21 pound 3 ounce fish at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning. The fish went to the top of the leader board at the fourth Annual Salmon Classic Invitational at Roche Harbor Marine & Resort. It would be another 32 hours and 88 fish later before Simms would know if his fish was big enough to beat out all others and he would collect the $10,000 cash first prize. It was and he did.

Andy Holman of Friday Harbor of Friday Harbor won $5,000 for second place with his 20.03 pound fish. Dave Reep of Mount Vernon was third with a 19.03 pound fish. He took home $1,500. Fourth place was worth $1,000. Bobby Collins of Arlington was fourth with an 18.05 pound fish.

The $1,500 prize for Best boat total went to Dave Nelson and Paul McAbee of Bellingham, and Jed Buchholz of Thornton, Colorado. They had 59.9 pounds of fish onboard.

Ninety-eight boats with 326 anglers onboard entered the derby. Eighty-nine fish were weighed in - 55 on Friday, Feb. 9 and 34 on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Good weather and a ton of fish
at this year's Roche Harbor fishing derby

posted 02/09/2007
Organizers barely had time to set up the weigh station outside Roche Harbor Grocery store before anglers were bringing in fish at this year's fishing derby. As of noon Friday, Feb. 9, Mike Simms of Woodinville is in the lead with a 21 pound 3 oz fish. He caught his potential $10,0000 fish at 8:30 a.m. First prize is $10,000, second prize is $5,000, third prize 1,500, fourth $1000. Bob Collins of Arlington is in second place with an 18 lb. 5 oz fish. Jimmy Lawson of Friday Harbor is third with a 16 lb. 8 oz fish. Ken Serbian is in fourth place with a 14 pound fish.

Lawson's boat is in the lead for best total boat weight with 41 pounds of fish. The prize for that category is $1500.

Debbie Sandwith said there are 98 boats participating and 326 anglers. She will be handing out $8,000 worth of raffle prizes during the derby. The prizes were donated by the vendors.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

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