Families enjoy Savenac fishing derby

The weather could not have been better for the annual Kids Fishing Derby held at the Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in Haugan.

Maybe too perfect as the temperature was 90 degrees just before noon which may have had an affect on attendance.

“Usually, we have around 30-35 fishing by this time,” said Josh Schulze, Biologist for the USFS Superior Ranger District.

The derby was moved from the Father’s Day weekend so between that adjustment and the heat, there was ample elbow room for casting.

The younger anglers that participated all said they were having fun!

This was Schulze’s fourth year as he had some helpers with him under the shade tent handing out fishing poles, lures and bait to those that needed them.

The poles were theirs to keep, as an incentive to go fishing more often.

Carole Johnson, USFS Forest Ranger for the Superior District, said that she thought this was at least the sixth year of the derby.

“I believe Tawnya Brummett was the ranger at the time and Joe Hanson was the biologist and they put this together,” she said.

Johnson was not only enjoying the event but talking with the Forest Service volunteers who were stationed at Savenac for the summer as camp hosts.

One was Robert Webb who cooked hot dogs for anyone fishing, watching or helping on the pond that was stocked with 250 rainbow trout two days before the derby, courtesy of the Montana Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

This is Webb’s ninth year as the volunteer Savenac camp host as he considers himself a professional RV’er.

“This has been my requested location ever since I was assigned to it. This derby is such fun to help with and I also help with the Trail Rail Run as this is a stop for the runners.”

Families were from Mullan, Idaho; Spokane and Spokane Valley, Washington; Oroville, California; Plains, and local residents in the west end.

Chase Hoag is from Washington but his family has property in DeBorgia. He decided to switch from a Panther Martin spinner to a bobber/worm set up.

“That seems to be what is working,” he said after watching a few fish being landed. The west end of the pond appeared to be the ‘hot-spot’ where Lilly Shultz reeled in the biggest fish of the day, at that point in time, and released it after mom and dad snapped pictures.

Kids could catch and release their fish or take home to eat and there wasn’t a limit.

“Between the upcoming heat and the local osprey, many of these fish aren’t going to make it very long so we encourage everyone to come and catch what they want”, Schulze said with a smile.