The Sky Valley Chapter of TU is hosting small chum derby on November 4. We would like to invite the readers of this board and their friends. Fish must be legally caught in the Snohomish system including the Skykomish. Entry fee is $10.00 for adults; kids 15 and younger are free although they have to register. Cash prizes are for biggest fish: 1st prize $100.00, 2nd prize $50.00, 3rd $25.00.
Of course these are modest prizes however the intent is for everyone to go out and have some fun then meet each other at the end of the day. The weigh-in will be at 3:30 PM at the Lewis Street boat launch. Veteran guide Rod Bush will be the weigh master.
To enter in need you to mail your names and entry fees to the Chapter address by Friday, November 3rd. The address is PO Box 542, Monroe WA. 98272. Or you can contact me and make arrangements at gbeezer@aol.com.
We only expect about 25-50 entries so your chances are pretty good and it would be fun to meet some of you Snohomish system regulars. One important note however, if you bonk some big old spawner buck, we do expect that you or your in-laws are going to eat it. We are not trying to encourage weighing in some big old boot just to have it thrown in the ditch on the way home.
Looking forward to meeting some of you.

Gary Bee
President of the Sky Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Sounds like nothing but fun. You can count on me for being there.

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rip some lips

November 4? That’s my birthday! I gust might twist my arm and go fishing darn

Hairball take some extra line.

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rip some lips

I predict the winners as follows:

1st place: Me
2nd place: Parker
3rd place: My other guest

Just kidding about the results. Please don't take it too seriously. We all know Parker couldn't win a derby unless it was Bass *LOL*JK*. Sounds like fun. I'll be there. Hope the river holds until then. Good to hear that Rod is the weigh master. I hope he doesn't have clients that day. Then there'll be some serious competition ahead of us.

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

Saukit2em, Mark Weber is a member of our Chapter and you already saw what he can do even when the river is blown. Sam Ingram is also a member and intentionally has not booked clients that day so he and his wife can fish the derby. I think we have four or five "pros" as members so I expect you will have some competition. Should be fun.

Beezer

I`ve never really fished that system but I know someone who has.
How about it Eric?
Want to give it a try?
Let me know and I`ll join you if you got room.

Beezer,
Maybe I would feed my in-laws a big ol` boot..might be nice for a change..*L*.J/K

Beezer - I was the guy that was fishing along side Mark Weber and took this photo. That's a funny looking woofer! I don't think we have anything to worry about



As for Saukit2em's bass comments - I learned all I know about bass fishing from Bob while up in AK. It's a four letter word that should not be used while out on the river!

I'm not too sure I want to enter this tournament. Every single woofer I have hooked this year has been foul hooked! I hit a nasty 15-18lb dog on the pectoral fin with a D'Nite on 8lb main. That only took me 45 minutes to land and release. I took my new bug rod fishing this weekend and managed to foul hook a good half dozen dogs - not on purpose, mind you. Nothing worse that foul hooking a huge icky dog on a bug rod. I think I lost most of my flies when that happened. Poor doggies.

On a more positive note, I did catch two dollies (legally) on the bug rod! Not quite what I was after, but at least I know I can get a fish to bite a fly! Now, if I can just get a dog to bite a fly......

Oh OK, I'll sign up. Maybe we'll bring on Brian as our ringer!

PS - Is there a charity we can donate these dogs too after the event? Maybe something like a homeless center? If we're smart about it, we could also get some media attention. One of those "See how lovey-nice us fisherpeople are". Just an idea.

Parker

[This message has been edited by parker (edited 10-24-2000).]

OK Parker, sorry about confusing you with Saukit2em concerning the photo with Mark. Guess that is why it would be fun to meet everbody. As far as donating the fish, We haven't considered that. If we were trying to do something like that I think we'd try another species, nothing against chum, but they aren't the prettiest present. As far as news coverage again this is a LOW KEY derby. Kinda just a get together. Hope to see you all on 11/4.

Beezer

Gary,

I'm fishing with Steve Shipley and he's going to put my nephew into the biggest chum. Everyone else is fishing for second place. Actually, I'm not sure my nephew will be able to hold onto the pole if it's a dog over 10 pounds so I take that back.

To all who are participating: If we float by you and I've got the video camera out, hold up any chum that are destined for the weigh-in dock.

See ya on the 4th.

Kevin
FH http://www.fishermansheaven.com

Hey Parker,

You are definitely giving me my 15 minutes of fame! People now stop me on the streets and ask "Aren't you the guy in that picture on Michael Parker's website?" Just kidding!

Hey, how are you liking that new fly rod? I too still manage to unintentionally foul-hook Chum from time to time on my Loomis 8wt.
I think that when you are swinging flies on the sink tip, it is pretty similar to drifting a corky and yarn in that when the chum are stacked, the leader brushes through, causing you to set the hook and Whoops! dog by the tail.

Like Gary say's "watch out!" Sky Valley chapter has some pretty good fishermen amongst it's ranks. Speaking of large chums, Saturday afternoon I caught one of the biggest dogs I have ever seen. I was down fishing the Hump, and this thing was in the low to mid twenties. A huge buck full of energy! I was sure I had another big king on, but when I finally landed it,and saw that it was a chum, we were all amazed at it's size. Hopefully this a precursor of thing to come!

Mark

I was out at cracker bar on monday with a buddy, and we landed a silver that was soo fresh its scales were still on. I believe that the bulk of the runs "chum&silvers" have yet to make it up. I've seen some old fish from both salmon, without a good rain you may not get too far with your derby. Hope it goes well, cross your fingers and hope for it. I also saw two people pull their limits out as I walked down to the cracker. All silvers FRESH fish. Maybe I could be wrong, about the statement above, but you could add silvers into the derby as well. There is a good supply of them in the river. J.C.B

This is a yearly derby for us so when we slated this year's date we didn't know that coho would be an option. It's biggest fish so if you can catch a coho bigger then some of the "big dogs" I anticipate I'm sure we will consider it.

Beezer