Fall fishing derby makes a wet start

SANDPOINT - As the weekend came to a close, James Mullen and Rick Meers were atop the leaderboard for the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club Fall Derby standings.

The derby kicked off Saturday despite less-than-favorable weather, said LPOIC's Clint Nicholson.

"Despite high winds and huge water, there were a few brave souls that hit the pond in search of a giant Gerrard rainbow trout," Nicholson said. "Several fish were caught and released, hoping to revive the trophy rainbow fishery, but only one was large enough to hit the scales."

That fish was that caught Saturday by Mullen, who is captain of Eagle Charter.

Mullen pulled in the 22.38-pound rainbow trout which measured 35 inches long. To top the mackinaw leaderboard, Meers pulled in a 13.46-pound mackinaw that was also good for Sunday's Fish of The Day prize.

Taking top spot in the Youth A standings was Jacob Gaffeney, who pulled in a 2.16-pound fish that measured 18 inches.

• Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club 2014 Fall Derby standings as of Nov. 23:

Adult rainbow trout

1. James Mullen, 22.38 pounds, 35 inches; 2. Chris Thurlow, 20.34, 34. 3. John Wesley Hamilton, 19.26, 34 inches. 4. Wayne Heather, 17.36, 30 inches. 5. Randy Mikels, 14.24, 30.25.

Adult mackinaw

1. Rick Meers, 13.46 pounds, 32 inches. 2. Cory LaRue, 13, 32. 3. Barb Gillespie, 10.06, 30. 4. Cheri Belgarde, 9.44, 29.

Youth "A"

1. Jacob Gaffeney, 2.16 pounds, 18 inches.

Fish of the Day

Nov. 23 - Rick Meers

Nov. 22 - Cory LaRue