Action heating up in Thanksgiving Derby
(Courtesy photo) Lauren Porter stands by a rainbow trout she caught on the opening day of the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club’s Thanksgiving Derby. The fish, which weighed 18.18 pounds and measured 32 inches, was enough to take the top spot in the Youth B division.
SANDPOINT — Becky Sturgis has some company at the top of the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club’s Thanksgiving Derby leaderboard.
Mike Mitale hooked at 19.44-pound, 33 3/4-inch fish to claim the lead in the adult rainbow trout category as Sturgis continued to hold the top spot in the adult Mackinaw division as the derby wrapped up its third day. Sturgis brought in a 17.58-pound Mackinaw that measured 37 inches to claim the top spot on Saturday, the derby’s opening day
Also catching his way onto the leaderboard on Monday in the adult Mackinaw division was Don Houk, who caught a 11.22-pound, 29-inch Mack to claim second place on Monday. A trio of anglers also caught their way onto the board: Dale Greene caught a 4.66-pound, 25-inch Mack while Art Web caught 3.88-pond, 22 3/4-inch beauty and Kenny Breeden caught a 3.33-pound, 21-inch Mack.
In the Youth B division, Lauren Porter continues to hold the lead in the category an 18.18-pound, 32-inch rainbow. In second place is Madison Shaw Clary, who caught a 13.9-pound, 28 3/4-inch rainbow. Claiming third spot on the list is Savannha Landingham, who caught a 6.30-pound, 23-inch rainbow on Sunday.
Over $10,000 in cash and prize money are up for grabs during the 2019 Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club’s Thanksgiving Derby. The derby continues until 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, with a day off on Thanksgiving Day.
There are adult divisions for rainbow trout and Mackinaw, in addition to two youth divisions for anglers eight years old and younger and for anglers between the ages of 9-13. Anglers aged 13 and under fish for free, although pre-registration is required.
First place in the adult rainbow trout division is worth $2,000, while the awards for second, third and fourth places are $1,000, $750 and $500, respectively. There is also a $2,000 members’ bonus split for club members who place in the adult rainbow division. Those who purchase a 2019 pin stand to win $250 if they catch the largest rainbow trout.
The minimum length for rainbow trout in the adult division is 32 inches.
The minimum rainbow length in the junior division is 28 inches. There are no minimum lengths for Mackinaw or anglers in the Youth A and B divisions.
The top adult finisher in the lake trout stands to win $1,000. Second-, third- and fourth-place finishers win $500, $300 and $200, respectively. Adults who finish in fifth to 10th place in the lake trout division win $100.
There is also a daily, $150 Mack of the Day award and a $100 prize for the best photo from this year’s event.
Tickets can be purchased at the Captn’s Table, Odie’s Bayside Grocery, North 40 Outfitters, Priest River Marine and Sandpoint Marine. The entry fee is $40 for adults and $20 for juniors.
K&K Derby 2019
Unofficial standings
(Monday, Nov. 25)
Adult rainbow trout
1. Mike Mitale, 19.44 pounds, 33 3/4 inches.
Adult Mackinaw
1. Becky Sturgis, 17.58-pounds, 37 inches; 2. Don Houk, 11.22, 29 inches; 3. Dale Greene, 4.66, 25; 4. Art Web, 3.88, 22 3/4; 5. Kenny Breeden, 3.33, 21; 6. Tom Joyner, 2.72, 20; 7. Mike Mitale, 2.46, 19 3/4; 8. Bert Dennett, 1.76, 17; 9. Paul Millar, 1.64, 18; 10. Josh Shelton, 1.32, 6 1/2.
Junior division (rainbow trout)
No fish caught.
Junior division (Mackinaw)
No fish caught.
Youth A division
No fish caught.
Youth B division
1. Lauren Porter, 18.18 pounds, 32 inches, rainbow; 2. Madison Shaw Clary, 13.90, 28 3/4, rainbow; 3. Savannha Landingham, 6.30, 23, rainbow.
Mack of the Day
Mack of the Day — Becky Sturgis (Saturday, Nov. 23); Mike Mitale, Nov. 24