Fisher River Fire Rescue's fish derby results

The ice was good enough and Saturday’s sun helped anglers get over what was slow fishing at times at last weekend’s Fisher River Fire Rescue Auxiliary’s 2024 Winter Fish Derby on the Thompson Lower Chain of Lakes. 

The department’s primary fundraiser enjoyed good weather as anglers from across northwest Montana worked to bring home cash, other prizes and fish for the dinner table.

The department’s auxiliary puts on the derby, which has been held for about 25 years, according to event organizers.

Here are the results.

In the kids category, northern pike division, Swayze Cooper’s 10-pound, 2-ounce fish that measured 32 1/2 inches, earned top honors.

Hunter and Fisher Buckner placed second and third, respectively, in the pike division. Hunter’s fish weighed 4 pounds, 5.9 ounces and measured 24 1/2 inches. Fisher’s pike was 23 1/2 inches long and weighed 3 pounds, 13.4 ounces.

Adonis Silvestri had a great weekend, catching the top perch (14.7 ounces, 12 1/4 inches) and Kokanee salmon (12.9 ounces, 13 5/8 inches) while taking second with a rainbow trout that meaured 13 7/8 inches and weighed 11.8 ounces.

In the perch division, Nathan Bates was second with a fish that weighed 11.5 ounces and measured 11 1/8 inches. Jacob Brake’s third-place perch weighed 9 ounces and was 10 1/2 inches long.

Colton Burns caught the biggest rainbow trout. It was 19 1/8 inches long and weighed 2 pounds, 1.9 ounces. Declan Burns’ third-place ‘bow weighed 10 ounces and measured 13 1/8 inches.

For Kokanee, Emmett Dopps’ second-place salmon was 12.6 ounces and weighed 13 1/2 inches. Taking third was Colton Dugan’s 12.1 ounce fish that measured 13 3/4 inches.

In the adult category, the top three pike all weighed at least 10 pounds. Clayton Kyriss’ 36 1/8 inch beauty weighed 15 pounds, 1 ounce. 

Nate Peltier’s pike was 10 pounds, 9.3 ounces and measured 32 5/8 inches. Brian Hershberger’s 10 pound, 0.2 ounce pike was 32 1/8 inches long.

In the perch division, Shane Fisher hauled in a 1 pound, 1.6 ounce fish that was 12.5 inches long, good for first place. Ross Dalby’s runner-up perch was 1 pounds, 0.8 ounces and 12.5 inches long. Pam Maley’s 15.5-ounce fish measured 12 5/8 inches.

Two rainbow trout eclipsed two pounds. Ron Gustine’s 19-inch ‘bow weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces was first while Nick Dotson’s 18 3/8-inch fish weighed 2 pounds, 2.1 ounces. Justin Ivins 17-inch, 1 pound, 6.4 ounce trout was third.

In the Kokanee division, Ryker McElmurry’s 16.5-inch fish weighed 1 pound, 4.4-ounces and was first. Barbara Steward’s second-place salmon weighed 1 pound, 2.5 ounces, 15 1/8 ounces. The third place fish, caught by Owen Wilkins, weighed 15.5 ounces and measured 14 5/8 inches.

    Barbara Steward displays the 1-pound, 2.5-ounce Kokanee salmon she caught during the 2024 Fisher River Valley Fire Auxiliary Fishing Derby last weekend. (Photo courtesy Fisher River Valley Fire Auxiliary)