The weather may not have been ideal, but the fishing certainly was for Likely’s annual fishing derby.
Fishermen, women and children pulled in some whoppers for the event, held over the May long weekend and organized by staff at the local Valley General Store.
“They were all really big fish,” Brenda Henke said of the top five winning entries.
Taking first prize and $1,000 was Curtis Best with his 16 pound, 10 ounce Lake trout. Second place and $500 went to Lisa Jones with her 13 pound, 14 ounce Lake trout, while third place was won by Mike Lorenz with his 11 pound, 12 ounce fish.
Fourth and fifth place finishes went to Andy Hayward with his 11 pound, 5 ounce trout while Al McMillan placed for his 10 pound, 12 ounce catch.
Henke said in all 139 adults and 31 children registered for the derby, which raised $1,021 for the local Likely Fire and Rescue services.
The derby was exclusively for Lake trout, due to current fishing restrictions on Rainbow trout in Quesnel Lake.