Hopek wins Big One Fishing Derby
Left: Andy Hopek holds the winning fish caught during this past week’s Big One Fishing Derby on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Hopek’s chinook salmon weighed 23.56 pounds and was 35 1/2 inches long. Bob Van Wie is also pictured. Right: Ava Duran stands with the big fish that won her the top spot in the Youth Division in the Big One Derby, a five-day chinook salmon fishing competition on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Ava’s fish weighed 8.64 pounds and was 26 1/2 inches long. Courtesy photos
Courtesy photo Ava Duran stands with the big fish that won her the top spot in the Youth Division in the Big One Derby, a five-day chinook salmon fishing competition on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Ava’s fish weighed 8.64 pounds and was 26 1/2 inches long.
The fish that earned the top prize in this year’s Big One Derby was caught from a pontoon boat with a bobber and a nightcrawler.
Andy Hopek boated the big fish, a chinook salmon that weighed 23.56 pounds and was 35 1/2 inches long.
In its 33rd year, the derby comprised five days of fishing from July 26 through last Sunday. The contest draws hundreds of salmon fishermen to Lake Coeur d’Alene each year.
Hopek’s top prize award is $5,000 cash. The second-place winner, Russ Hogan, will receive $3,000, and the third-place winner goes home with $1,000.
The top winners in both divisions are:
ADULT DIVISION
1. Andy Hopek, 23.56 pounds, 35 1/2 inches
2. Russ Hogan, 21.40 pounds, 34 1/2 inches
3. Frank Whitney Jr., 18.94 pounds, 34 inches
4. Hayden Villa, 18.80 pounds, 32 inches
5. Rita Deviny, 18.18 pounds, 32 inches
6. Gary Thompson, 17.76 pounds, 33 inches
7. Roger Blackstone, 17.72 pounds, 32 1/2 inches
8. Ray McLeod, 17.68 pounds, 32 1/4 inches
9. Chris Miller, 17.28 pounds, 31 1/2 inches
10. Ray Allison, 15.28 pounds, 32 inches
YOUTH DIVISION
1. Ava Duran, 8.64 pounds, 26 1/2 inches
2. Isiah Allison, 4 pounds, 22 inches
3. Isaac Drake, 2.94 pounds, 23 inches
PIKE MINNOW
Logan Elliot, 3.34 pounds, 27 3/4 inches
David Hill, 2.25 pounds, 20 inches