North Thompson Fish and Game Club Society treasurer, Kathy Campbell, tells that the idea to form the club came up when a group of interested people discussed the idea in a local coffee shop in 2009.
That’s been just under 10 years, and she says the club has done well and is still growing; noting that 10 per cent of area residents are members of the organization. Campbell says the club is strongly family oriented.
“We welcome the children to join their parents in club events, and we always include them in our activities,” said Campbell, “We believe it is important that children are given the opportunity to learn.”
Such an opportunity to learn presented itself last weekend when the North Thompson Fish and Game Club Society (NTF&G ) held its annual North Thompson Father’s Day Fishing Derby on Sunday, June 17. The weather was perfect and the turnout was very good with 66 fish being brought in and weighed for the event at Fadear Park where the Club was set up at the Bandshell.
The Hidden Weight Grand Prize went to Harold Oliver for a 5 oz. fish, winning him an Outdoor Propane Firepit donated by the NTF&G
Runner Up to the Hidden Weight- winner was Rodney Dobson taking home a Fisherman’s Set of knives in a case donated by Barriere Auto Parts.
The Largest Rainbow Trout was caught by Art Turner who won a Butane One Burner Stove courtesy of NTF&G.
The Largest Sport Fish was brought in by Ashley Burslem, who won Cooler’s donated by NTF&G past president, Mel Schmidt.
The Overall Greatest Weight – per an Entry went to Stew Therrien, who won an executive chair.
In the Children’s Category the Largest Fish was caught by Patrick Appell who took home a set of Water Guns.
The Fishing Derby Entry from Farthest Away was Clive Burslem from Maple Ridge, who received an L.E.D. Flashlight donated by Appied Industrial Tech.
The Multiple Generation – Combined Ages – Largest Number Award went to Shawn Murphy, winning a Round Domed Table Top Grill courtesy of NTF&G.
The Best Fish Story for the Day was earned by Sterling (Therrien) who won a BBQ Grill courtesy of 14.2 inc.
Every child attending the event also received their own choice of a prize from a mound of super donated items as the child’s name was drawn from a bucket, all courtesy of the NTF&G.
Campbell commented, “It is not the biggest fish that wins the price; it is the hidden weight of the fish pulled from the bucket at precisely 4 p.m. that becomes the winner. No one knows what that weight will be until that time. This year the smallest fish won the biggest prize (5 oz.)”
One of the under 16 years old children who got to pick her own gift from the pile of goodies after her name was drawn was a little girl who had not even had the opportunity to go fishing yet. When given her turn to choose a gift she picked a new fishing rod for herself.
“Guess who will be at the Father’s Day Fishing Derby next year?” was the consensus of all those who witnessed her choice.