Sun Will Shine on This Year's Detroit Fishing Derby

If the forecast holds together, there may not be a better place to be this weekend than Detroit Lake.

(DETROIT, Ore.) - The Annual Detroit Fishing Derby has landed on a spectacular weather weekend this year! With high’s near 80 on Saturday and Sunday, this promises to be a gorgeous time to be on the lake.

The Derby starts Friday May 15th and goes through Sunday the 17th. Registration and fish entry is from 6:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday the last fish is counted at 2pm sharp. The registration fee is $12 for adults and $7 for kids.

There will also be a fisherman’s breakfast hosted by the Santiam Snowmobile Club. This event will be held from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the City Hall each morning, and costs only $3.

The closing ceremonies are at 3pm on Sunday. A multitude of prizes will be awarded at this time. Prizes include a 16’ Smokercraft boat with a trailer, many rod/reel combinations and bicycles for the kids. Up to five fish can be registered per fisherman, per day.

Each fish gets you another raffle ticket toward the drawings. Any fish caught in a lake or stream in the Detroit area can count. Special prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish caught, in adult and kids categories.

ODFW will be stocking 10,000 legal sized rainbow trout today (Thursday) at Kane’s Marina and at Mongold Ramp. Mixed in with these fish will be 20 rainbows with a small tag attached to their dorsal fin. Bring one of these in and you earn $50.

There will be plenty of fish to choose from, since ODFW will have stocked 60,000 fish here in about the last month and a half!

Stop in at the local businesses and marinas to stock up on the current favorites for catching these fish. According to Shauna at the River’s Run (503-854-3039) the fish change their minds often. For bait fishermen, the current favorites include; garlic marshmallows, worms, corn and chartreuse powerbait.

Another very effective bait is shrimp on a small treble hook. For hardware, try Buzz Bombs and Super Duper’s. All the shelves around town should be stocked and ready for the Derby.

The proceeds from this event will go toward this year’s July 4th fireworks over Detroit Lake, which will be held on Friday night July 3rd. This is a spectacular show. If you can get out on a boat for a front row seat, I highly recommend it. The flashing scenery and booming echo’s across the canyon walls are spectacular.

So dust off that tackle box and sharpen those hooks. Detroit Lake is teeming with fish this weekend just waiting to be caught. And don’t forget the sunscreen.

When time allows, Gerrit and his family make the break to the Detroit Lake area and other parts of Oregon where hunting and fishing are the order of the day. Gerrit has a way with words that is drawn from both education and life experience. While Gerrit has a full time career in law enforcement and firefighting before that, he has also taken the time to polish his natural skills at delivering written and visual information. He used to have an outdoor column in the South Salem Post. He has also written regular articles for Oregon Fishing & Hunting News and ESPN.com. Gerrit's experience in life is both awe-inspiring and honorable. Gerrit is likable, uniquely qualified, energetic and down to earth. He helps fill the void when it comes to articles about all of the amazing things Oregon has to offer those who have a connection with nature; be it through hiking, fishing, photography, hunting, or so many other outdoor activities here.