Today is opening day for the Fourth Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, which the Kenai Chamber of Commerce has described as a fun and family-friendly fishing tournament. The derby will run from today until Sunday, September 20.
In a release from the City of Kenai, the event is billed “The World’s Most Responsible Fishing Tournament.” The Kenai Silver Salmon Derby is celebrated as a new kind of fishing tournament that reduces selective fishing practices that lead to catch-and-release injuries which compromise the health of the silver salmon population in the Kenai River.
Net proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Kenai Community Foundation for management and protection of river banks and other zones in the City of Kenai.
Kim Sparacio at the Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center says that the derby will be as COVID-safe as possible, with social distancing being practiced throughout: “It would be COVID-friendly because you’re not going inside to fish. You’re going outside, and you’ll be experiencing either in a boat or on-shore. There’s really ways for folks to get around. A lot of guys in our area are limiting how many people are in the boat. They’re spacing people apart, so that’s one thing that makes it COVID-friendly is because there’s still that state health mandate in the back of their heads, spacing six-feet apart, but you can still fish.”
The event takes place on the Kenai River and is suitable for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Previous years have shown success with days of endless high-fives, quality time spent with family, and daily prizes.
This year’s event pays $3,000 for the adult overall first place winner and $500 for the youth overall first place winner, with additional daily prizes for adult and youth. The Kenai Silver Salmon Derby awards prizes using a Magic Weight that is randomly generated using two wheels of identical size. Since any fish over four pounds is eligible to win, anglers of all skill levels have a chance to earn prizes.
Sparacio also provided details about what folks need to know who plan to enter the derby: “For the ticket sales, if you want to buy a ticket, it’s $50 for the whole week, which is September 15 – 20. If you want to do just a day, it’s $10 per day. Then, we have three ticket locations. In Soldotna, we have Sportsmen’s Warehouse, and in Kenai, we have Three Bears, which is also the weigh-in station, and we have the Kenai Visitors Center here across the street from Paradisos. We are open Monday – Friday now, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. That’s where you can get the ticket.””
To learn more about the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, visit KenaiSilverSalmonDerby.com.