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Anglers aim to rid Columbia River of invasive species one hook at a time

Fishing derby offering cash prizes for those removing walleye and norther pike from B.C. river system

West Kootenay anglers have an opportunity to enjoy some fishing time while potentially earning prizes in the Invasive Species Fishout Derby.

The event will be held Aug. 15-24 with the intent of catching as many northern pike and walleye as possible. Both species are considered invasive as they are not native to the area and are detrimental to local fish populations such as trout and Kokanee.

The entry fee is $40 and the total prize value is $3250 thanks to sponsors including Columbia Power, All In Fishing Adventures, Okanagan Nation Alliance and Destination Castlegar.

Prize categories include:

• Overall total length combined of 10 longest walleye – $750
• Longest walleye first place â€“ $750
• Longest walleye second place – $500
• Longest walleye third place – $300
• Daily draw from stomach content picture or video submissions – $65 each day
• Hidden length walleye prize – $200
• Prize for northern pike (awarded by random draw) – $100

The event is hosted in conjunction with Fishing BC, and will be administrated through the MyCatch app by Angler's Atlas. 

Tournament boundaries are within the limits of the Columbia River system. The upstream boundaries are the Hugh Keenleyside Dam on the Columbia stem and the Highway 3A bridge on the Kootenay River stem. The southern boundary is the downstream side of the Waneta Dam on the Pend Oreille River stem and the Canada/US border on the Columbia stem.

Anglers must abide by provincial fishing regulations.

To register, go to



Betsy Kline

About the Author: Betsy Kline

After spending several years as a freelance writer for the Castlegar News, Betsy joined the editorial staff as a reporter in March of 2015. In 2020, she moved into the editor's position.
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