Fisherman Snagged By Rules

One North Idaho angler is eating expensive mackinaw this week.

John McConnell of Kellogg knew he had a fish in the money when he landed a 38-inch-long mack on the first day of the Spring K&K Challenge Derby last week.

He dutifully stopped at a check station on Lake Pend Oreille, where the fish was recorded at 20.12 pounds.

Unfortunately, acting on bum advice from inexperienced station attendants, McConnell proceeded as most experienced fishermen do with a nice fish.

He gutted it.

Everyone involved had neglected to read the rules printed on each derby ticket. Only one of the rules is underlined for emphasis: Fish contending for prizes must be brought to derby headquarters with “entrails intact.”

Had it not been disqualified, McConnell’s fish would have placed fifth - well within the money for the mackinaw category.

His consolation, of course, is a large slab of meat. But no matter how you cut it, a big mack isn’t worth $200 on the dinner table.

Beginner’s luck: Jerry Wilhelm is glad he didn’t take any advice before fishing in the K&K Derby.

The Spokane angler caught a 30.4-pound lake trout to win the $10,000 grand prize, even though it was his first time fishing for mackinaw. He shared his boat with his brother, Jeff, and grandson, Jerry Messner of Lind. The boat produced four prize-winning fish.

“When the derby was over, we found out we were doing everything wrong,” Wilhelm said. “The experts told us we should have been out on the water before daylight, but we never got out until about 8 a.m.”

Wilhelm’s winning fish was caught in the afternoon near Whiskey Rock. He was trolling a black and white Rapala on a downrigger lowered 50 feet.

“Everybody told us we weren’t fishing deep enough for mackinaw,” Wilhelm said. “We should have been dredging the bottom.”

Wilhelm fishes the derby every year, but has always concentrated on fishing for the rainbows.

“I guess you could say ignorance pays,” he said.

Seize the salmon: A rare chinook salmon fishing season is likely to be approved today by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

About 15,000 hatchery spring chinook are expected to make their way back to Idaho, allowing enough for a salmon fishing season on portions of the Clearwater, South Fork of the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.

Wild salmon are listed as an endangered species and would have to be released. Hatchery fish have had their adipose fins clipped.

The last time Idaho anglers had this opportunity was in 1992. Biologists say this season, if approved, could be the last of the century.

Hoof it for birds: Take a hike Saturday and see some birds on field trips guided by wildlife biologists near Colville to commemorate International Migratory Bird Day.

Big Meadow Lake: Easy 3-mile hike through wetlands. Meet 8 a.m. at Colville Ranger Station to carpool, or at 9 a.m. at Big Meadow Lake. Info: (509) 684-7010.

Elk Creek: Easy 2-mile hike through forest and fields beginning at 8 a.m. near Sullivan Lake. Pre-register by calling (509) 446-7500.

Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge: Fairly difficult 3-mile hike in refuge beginning at 7 a.m. Pre-register by calling (509) 684-8384.

Battling greed: Getting a ticket for illegal fishing isn’t as easy as it used to be. Twenty years ago, virtually any Fish and Wildlife Department field employee could write a ticket for a fishing infraction. Nowadays, only certified law enforcement agents can make a citation. That leaves a lot of anglers answering only to their conscience.

The department has just two agents assigned to cover Spokane County, said Mike Whorton, regional enforcement chief.

But sometimes the outnumbered agents make their day. Disguised as anglers, undercover agents made 11 arrests on poachers who killed more than their limit of trout for this year’s opener along the Tucannon River.

“A $95 ticket can leave a lasting impression,” Whorton said.

You can contact Rich Landers by voice mail at 459-5577, extension 5508.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review