Annual Lac La Biche Pow Wow Days fish derby was on, then off, now back on as officials net a deal with provincial agencies.
The Pow Wow Days Fish Derby will be taking place this weekend after all - for a one-day event.
The fish derby will happen from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday July 31 at Beaver Lake. Registration will be on Saturday July 30 from 4p.m. to 8 at the Devon Room in the Bold Center. The registration fee is $100.
The catch and release derby was originally cancelled after Fish and Wildlife officials discovered the event had been advertised without a license. Lac La Biche County Councillor David Philips has directed the fish derby for over a decade and admitted he submitted the application too late this year before the event was advertised on a website.
“This year it was my fault,” said Philips. “I applied too late and went on vacation.”
Fish and Wildlife officials informed Philips the application had not gone through three days before returning from his vacation on July 13.
Pow Wow Days volunteer; Mel Kuprowsky says mayor Omer Mogrhabi and Pow Wow Days Association president Martin Desjarlais worked with Ministry of Environment officials to receive a license for the weekend.
The license for the fish derby was received late Friday afternoon.
“It was wonderful cooperation and we thank them,” said Kuprowsky.
Kevin Zatorski will be directing this year’ s fish derby on Beaver Lake. Zatorski has previous experience hosting fish derbies.
Kuprowsky says they are expecting around 100 boats in the catch and release derby. Each boat must have one licensed boat driver and a live well.
Kuprowsky says a pontoon boat will be on the water where boaters will take their catches to be measured by length.
According to Zatorski, the prizes will be announced around 7 on Sunday evening. There will be different categories including adult open, child and grandparent’ s as well as various cash prizes for first, second and third place in the pike and perch categories.
Kuprowsky says next year’ s fishing derby will be returning to its usual two-day event with bigger prizes.
Participants can launch their boats at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
