Some 300 participants were out vying for the top three spots and a chance to win the $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 prizes at the 18 Annual Stuart Lake Fishing Derby which ran from 7 a.m. June 27 to 10 a.m. July 1.
The $10,000 first place prize went to John Celogheros from Prince George with a 9 lb. 13.9 oz. rainbow trout. Celogheros said this is his second year at the derby and he caught his first place winner near the American Islands.
Second place and the $5,000 prize was nabbed by Brent Karlson of Prince George with an 8 lb. 2.8 oz. rainbow trout. Karlson said he caught his second place winner near the beginning of the North Arm of Stuart Lake.
The $2,500 third place prize was awarded to Justin Howell of Fort St. James with his 5 lb. .76 oz. rainbow trout. Howell has been fishing in the derby for the past ten years, he said he caught his third place winner up by Battleship.
Rainbow trout that were brought in by the entrants were having data sampled for the B.C. Department of Fisheries and Oceans to assist in a study that is being conducted on the status of the rainbow trout population in Stuart Lake.