Strong winds present obstacle for Oktoberfish competitors
The fifth annual Oktoberfish derby in Bayview is over, and what a test of endurance it was. The wind was whipping down Lake Pend Oreille at a constant 20 mph with gusts of up to 40. Anyone who has tried to troll in high winds knows that controlling a boat in a side wind of that magnitude is a quick trip to tangled lines.
The two-day derby had four winners. The top prize of $1,444 went to Cory LaRue, who said that on Sunday they were fighting a 3-foot chop, and with the weight of the fishermen in the rear of the boat, it was close to uncontrollable. LaRue has fished in the last four derbies without winning. He said he was talking to the fishing tackle department head at White Elephant when she asked if he was going to fish the derby. He said, “No, I’m going to win it.” LaRue was especially proud of the lure he caught the winner on. He said his son Josh tied a fly for him out of yak hair.
He also had praise for his netter. Randy Mikels, who he said has never missed a fish.
Other winners were: Hal Bunyard of Sandpoint with a 5-pound, 9-ounce Mackinaw. Third was Vern Scott’s very respectable rainbow of 14 pounds, 7 ounces. The fourth prize was won by Robert Blackstone of Coeur d’Alene with a 5-pound, 1-ounce Mackinaw.
Ralph Jones, owner of Ralph’s Internet Café, organized the derby. He insisted from the start that all entry fees be distributed to the entrants and has held firm. His motive in sponsoring the derby was to draw interest to Bayview and help business. The Captain’s Wheel Restaurant hosted the auction Friday night prior to the actual derby, which was held Oct. 2-3. The restaurant also served as the weigh-in station and hosted the awards ceremony.
Darling breaks ground
In other news out of Bayview, the long drought in commercial building ended as James Darling, former Washington State University football star and NFL veteran, recently broke ground for phase one of his combination motel/condo with six units each. Darling said lower building costs brought the necessary loan amount down to workable figures. Banner Bank stepped up with the funds and with the foundations and rough plumbing in, the framers are hard at work – a good sign in these difficult times.