Almond wins Chinook Derby top prize

Coeur d’Alene Anglers Association president Roger Blackstone has seen more fruitful years, fish-wise, at the annual Big One Chinook Derby.

The 32nd edition of the Lake Coeur d’Alene-based event was atypically low in fish — but not in fun and cash prizes.

Around 400 participants competed for a purse of $30,000 over three days, concluding Sunday, with Coeur d’Alene resident Jim Almond winning the foremost prize of $5,000 after hooking a 24-and-a-half pound, 37-and-a-half inch salmon.

Ray McLeod and Andy Hartin — also Coeur d’Alene natives — finished second and third, respectively. McLeod pocketed $3,000 for his catch (23.62 pounds, 37.5 inches) and Hartin won $1,000 (23.58 pounds, 34.5 inches).

Hartin also won the Big One daily adult standings. Alex Vedder hooked a 21.9-pound salmon to win the youth division.

“It ended up being a hot three days and windy three days,” Blackstone said. “Made fishing a little tougher. The fish numbers were down a bit, not as many were caught as last year. That was expected, but still less fish than we’d like. There were still some happy folks, though.”

Cash prizes will be given out Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn for the event’s top 10 winners and daily winners.

This year’s derby was part of the Northwest Salmon Series for the first time.

The series includes 14 derbies, 13 of which are near the Puget Sound. The Big One Chinook Derby is only freshwater competition in the series.