Fort St. James is gearing up for the 18th Annual Stuart Lake Fishing Derby!
Chamber of Commerce president Andrew Wheatley says this year’s partnership with local fisheries could shine some light on the rainbow trout, and have a positive impact on surrounding lakes.
“Our weigh-masters for the derby will take tissue samples, length and weight, size and head for them to do sampling to understand where these big rainbow trout spawn, where their favourite creeks are, and also what their favourite food is,” explains Wheatley, “We are purposefully only targeting rainbow trout because char, which is also found in all three lakes, are a much slower-growing fish… We don’t want to deplete a fish species that is slow in reproducing.”
This is the first year the fisheries have been actively involved in the derby, and the first year for many more avid fishermen as well.
“You just have to understand how to put a lure on a fishing rod and throw it out the back of the boat,” says Wheatley, “Do anything you think will catch a big fish.”
More than 250 anglers are expected to hit the water between June 27 and July 1 in pursuit of the $10,000 grand prize.
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