Rife hooks top prize at Big One Chinook Derby

COEUR d'ALENE - Two big fish caught in a four-day span meant one big check for angler Dan Rife

The Carlin Bay man won the 26th annual Big One Chinook Derby, which ended Sunday afternoon.

Rife on Sunday caught a 24.30-pound chinook on Lake Coeur d'Alene to win the event and the $5,000 top prize. Rife also took fifth place, with a chinook weighing in at 22.34 pounds, which he caught on Thursday. It was the exact same weight as another fish caught in the derby, but it measured an inch shorter.

Annie Beardsley on Saturday hooked a 23.64-pound chinook on Saturday to land second place overall.

About 35 adults weighed in fish during the derby.

The top 10 overall were:

1. Dan Rife, 24.30 pounds

2. Annie Beardsley, 23.64

3. Dan Pierce, 22.36

4. Mike Hutter, 22.34 pounds, 35 inches in length

5. Dan Rife, 22.34 pounds, 34 inches

6. Dan Covey, 22.14

7. Dawn Nolan, 21.00

8. Bob Goodson, 20.00

9. Bob Goodson, 19.66

10. David Hill, 18.88

Second place in the derby, which is put on by the Lake Coeur d'Alene Anglers Association, is good for $3,000, and third place is $1,000.

The prize for the top daily fish is $500, and $300 for second, and $100 for third.

The top three on Saturday were:

1. Annie Beardsley, 23.64 pounds

2. Mike Hutter, 22.34 pounds, 35 inches long

3. Dan Rife, 22.34 pounds, 34 inches

The top three on Sunday were:

1. Dan Rife 24.30 pounds

2. Dan Pierce, 22.36

3. Dan Covey, 22.14

Youth Divisional overall

1. Kyle Reagan, 15.50

2. Colt Strayer, 9.32

3. Peter Gustin, 7.44

4. Rachel Matheson, 6.32

5. Morgan Jett, 6.28