The 3rd Annual Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby
Did somebody say you could win a quarter of a million dollars this year?!
The Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby has created quite the buzz within the sport fishing communities on Vancouver Island. With opportunities to win thousands in cash prizes monthly and to get a piece of a $60,000 pie in total cash and prizes at summer’s end, this season-long derby has definitely put a new spin on sport fishing in BC.
“We started out in 2010 and didn’t know what to expect!” said Lisa Brisco, Derby Coordinator and member of the Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society. “We didn’t think there was a way to make fishing in Ucluelet more fun…but there was!”
The Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society (USES) was created to organize, run, and promote the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby in an effort to raise funds and awareness towards local salmon enhancement projects like the Thornton Creek Hatchery. So far the USES has been able to donate over $7000 to the hatchery, contributing to projects that release over 500,000 Chinook and 100,000 coho salmon into local waterways each year. With awareness continuing to increase, the Thornton Creek Hatchery has seen more visitors and more donations come through each year thanks to Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby!
“The derby is running May 1st to September 3rd this year,” said Brisco. “The top 15 fish caught each month along with the top 50 of the season will fish off September 7th and 8th for some serious prizes including the new $250,000 Hidden Weight Grand Prize.”
In 2010 and 2011 cash and prizes totalled over $60,000 each year, not to mention the $5000-7000 that was rewarded monthly. Participating anglers purchase their tickets at local Ucluelet vendors for the day or the season and this allows them to register their catch of the day at the Official Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby Weigh In Station located within Ucluelet’s Inner Boat Basin.
“Our staff are available to be at that dock all summer long from before dawn to half an hour after sun set!” shared Lisa. “If you’ve got a winning fish we are ready to weighed, document it, and get it on our ladder!”
The official ladder is located on the derby’s website at www.uclueletsalmonladderderby.com. Here anglers can follow their rankings as the summer progresses, get details and reports from derby staff, and keep up to date with a regularly published blog.
New to 2012: two available $250,000 Hidden Weight Grand Prize. Each day of the final Fish Off, September 7th and 8th, participating anglers will enter their names into the draw. A name will be randomly drawn each day. If your name is chosen you have to choose one weight out of the 2 salmon you’ve caught that day. After the weigh-in stations close, on each day of the Fish Off, we will call out a hidden weight provided by the Grand Prize Promotions (GPP). On Sunday, September 9th we will be announcing all of our derby winners, including the quarter million dollar winner(s)…should there be one, or even two! Exciting or what?!
Also new this year is the chance to WIN your way into the Fish Off through the Fish Off Draw, even if you didn’t catch a fish over the summer that ranked in the top 15 for that month. You are eligible for this draw if your fish is in position 16 to 50 on the ladder at each month’s cut off time: midnight May 31st, June 30th or July 31st. Five Fish Off positions (invitation only) will be announced at a draw made at noon, Sunday, August 19th 2012. To enter into the draw participants have until the 15th of the following month to forward their name, ticket number, fish size and date caught.
“What is most important to make this event successful are the fishers, the community, and of course our corporate sponsorships. The more money we can raise through sponsorships, the more money we can donate to salmon enhancement,” shared Brisco.
The Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society has a fundraising goal of $10,000 to the Thornton Creek Hatchery and $1000 to the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Both of these organizations are responsible for the protection, conservation, and enhancement of British Columbia’s most precious resource: our salmon.
Now entering its third year, and only growing in participation and community involvement, the Ucluelet Salmon Ladder Derby will continue to enhance sport fishing in Ucluelet and Vancouver Island and it endeavors to reach its fundraising goals for the Ucluelet Salmon Enhancement Society.
For information on sponsorship, donating, or to purchase your derby tickets online visit www.uclueletsalmonladderderby.com or email Lisa Brisco at ladderderby@gmail.com.
We hope to see you on the water this year!
Kind Regards,
Amy Hancock
1 comment
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