June 01, 2010
Tuesday

Jessie Embree entered the first fish of the 63rd Annual Ketchikan CHARR King Salmon Derby and her 39.3 lb king held the top spot through the finish of the first derby weekend. Photo courtesy Ketchikan CHARR King Salmon Derby

Ketchikan, Alaska - Not only did Jessie Embree enter the first fish of the 63rd Annual Ketchikan CHARR King Salmon Derby, her 39.3 lb king held the top spot through the finish of the first weekend of the three weekend event. Embree logged her entry in at the Mountain Point weigh-in station at 10:41 a.m. Saturday morning, and then watched as 914 other anglers tried to push her out of the top spot through the rest of the Memorial Day weekend.

Embree's king was one of 255 kings turned in during opening weekend, 19 more fish than were logged in during opening weekend of the 2009 derby. In order to claim more than $10,000 in cash awarded to the angler that turns in the largest king Embree will need a little luck on her side ­ no derby winner has ever been under 40 pounds.

The 2009 derby saw Mark Tolfeldt jump ahead with a 44.0 king weighed in during the first weekend, only to be knocked into second place by Dan McQueen's 44.2 lb king on the last day of the derby.

Sunny skies cooperated for some nice weather, although some anglers complained at weigh-in stations about the wind. Both Clover Pass Resort and Knudson Cove Marina reported some day two rental cancelations because of choppy water during day one.

A new youth ladder was also introduced as part of this year's derby. Kohl Hallmann lead after the first weekend with a 22.4 pound king. 12 youth weighed fish in on the youth ladder, which sports 10 ladder rungs and over $5,500 in cash and prizes. Youth under 16 fishing with an individual ticket holder are eligible to fish on the youth ladder without a derby ticket. Those youth under 16 wanting to fish the adult ladder can buy an individual ticket, negating their ability to participate in the youth ladder but making them eligible for more than $75,000 in cash and prizes available on the adult ladder. All anglers are eligible for the $10,000 cash Grand Prize.

All results are available online at the derby's official website, www.ketchikankingsalmonderby.com . Fishing will continue June 5-6 and June 12-13. The derby awards ceremony will take place June 18th, 6:30 p.m. at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. Anglers will choose from prized packages based on their placement on the derby ladder.

On the Web:

Ketchikan King Salmon Derby 2010 Leader Board and Photographs
http://www.ketchikankingsalmonderby.com/2010Leader.html

Source of News & Photograph:

Ketchikan CHARR King Salmon Derby
http://www.ketchikankingsalmonderby.com

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