FISHING – Anglers claimed more than 340 prizes after catching tagged hatchery-raised trout during the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s first annual statewide fishing derby, the agency says.

The derby ran from April 23 through Sept. 6, with more than 130 license dealers donating prizes, including charter fishing trips, gift cards, and rod and reel combos.

The department says its fisheries staffers planted more than 700 tagged fish in lowland lakes this spring. Anglers lucky enough to catch one of these fish could exchange the tag for a corresponding prize.

With the potential for anglers to win more than $20,000 in prizes, the department provided more reasons to fish Washington this past spring and summer, said Larry Phillips, WDFW’s inland fish program manager. 

“The fact that almost half the prizes were claimed indicates that many people fished hard this summer, and we hope the derby built excitement for fishing among both veterans and new anglers,” said Phillips.

The agency has begun planning a similar derby for 2017.