No big fish derby at this year's Pow Wow Days

Organizers of this year’s Pow Wow Days event — the 58th consecutive year of the community celebration — are sad to report that the annual Family Fish Derby on Lac La Biche lake will not be held this year.

Provincial regulations and new policies on area lakes have restricted many of the privileges that local anglers once had, says Pow Wow Days and Fish Derby Association President Lavon Fleming.

“We’ve tried. We’ve spent months trying to get provincial regulators, policy-makers and enforcement agencies to allow our annual catch-and-release derby ... but it didn’t happen.”

Many water bodies in the area — ironically known for its 150 lakes within a 75-kilometre radius — have tight restrictions on what fish can be caught, how many and how big. In most local lakes a draw system has been imposed for the popular walleye species.

Despite 650 tags issued this fishing season in Lac La Biche lake for slot-sized walleye, Fleming said local wildlife officials have determined that a single-day fishing derby with less than 50 boats would put too much stress on the lake’s fish populations.

Children’s tourney is a go

“To all of our fishing friends out there who look forward to this event every year, we’re sorry we cannot make it happen this year,” said Fleming, but added that the Children’s Fish Derby at Alexander Hamilton Park has been getting lots of local support and will again be one of the highlights of a busy Pow Wow Days weekend.

“The kids will enjoy themselves. It’s just a few hours, but it gets them hooked on a fun past-time and a growing part of our annual Pow Wow Days events,” she said.