From Chris Gadsden:

The 2004 edition of the sixty – first annual Boxing Day Steelhead Derby held on the Chilliwack/Vedder River sponsored by The Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Association went down in the books as one, if not the closest finishes ever for top spot.

At the 2pm, derby deadline Chilliwack resident Ken Bergman’s 12.44-pound doe gave him the Ferguson and Furnell perpetual Trophy awarded since 1938. Bergman also took home a 3-day ocean-fishing trip donated by Wayne Ridley of Ridleys Fishing Charters from Winter Harbor on Vancouver Island.

Bergman as it turned out had edged well known Chilliwack sports and fishing figure Don Kozak by 0.03 of a pound, almost too close to weigh. Kozak’s fish hit the weigh scales at 12.41 pounds.

The story had a bit of a twist as do a lot of fish tales , “Ken was fishing the same run as I was and he was fishing right next to me when I landed my fish around 9:30 am ” Kozak said following the awards ceremonies.

“After I had landed my steelhead and was getting ready to head to weigh in my fish I asked Ken’s fishing partner Ivan Vandenbrink if he would like some of my the lucky roe I was using” Kozak related

Vandenbrink took up Kozak’s kind offer. “I then thought I should also ask Bergman if he would like some as well, which he promptly did” Kozak added

Bergman picks up the story, “I was very happy to accept the roe as I had had no luck so far using a pink worm and then trying a wool and Jensen egg combo,” he said.

“ It seemed in no time flat just as Don was disappearing around the corner I had my steelhead on, I even shouted to Don to try and tell him” the eventual derby winner said.

It was shortly after when Kozak had weighed in his fish that the jubilant Bergman arrived at the clubhouse to bump Kozak the short-lived derby leader off the top rung.

This was the first hatchery fish Bergman had landed in four previous derby attempts. Beside Vandenbrink, Bergman was also fishing with friend Terry Cross and son Caleb.

Not to be out done Caleb landed a small trout, Cross a wild fish and a dolly varden, all released as only hatchery fish can be retained.

Other Chilliwack residents landing a steelhead were fourth place finisher Ernie McDuff, 12.13 pounds, in fifth, Edward Reil, 11.62 pounds, Peter Glover, a 8.84 pound steelhead, Brandon Wooten, 7.80 pounds and Bruce Bishop taking smallest fish honours with a steelhead of 6.70 pounds.

Other out of town winners: were third place finisher Marty Moore with a 12.17 fish, Brian Tomicki with the first fish in, an 11.43 steelhead and the final winner was the hidden weight fish caught by Mark Wong of Vancouver a steelhead of 10.06 pounds.

Derby chair David Lamson was pleased with the event, “River conditions were great and the number of fish landed was similar to the last few derbies,” Lamson said

Lamson added, “thanks to the support of local business’s donating prizes and to those that entered the derby net proceeds approaching $3,000 will go to habitat restoration work in the Chilliwack River Valley”.

Fish Tails

331 anglers entered this year’s derby weighing in a total 10 steelhead.

Last year 357 anglers weighed in 11 fish.

In 2002, 366 anglers entered 7 fish.

2001 was a record year in recent history as the 450-steelhead enthusiast entered 33 fish.

One angler who had fished the last ten derbies in a row did not enter this year. He went fishing anyway and caught a fish and brought it to the weigh scales just to check the weight and was relieved it was not a derby contender.

Another angler appeared at the clubhouse to weigh in his fish and in the excitement had forgot to record his prize catch on his fishing license so was disqualified.