Three brothers separated by distance had a small reunion while participating in the first weeklong salmon derby.
Ken Lund fished with his brothers Doug and Mark when they were younger in their hometown of Kenora. Over the years his brother Mark became a police officer moved to a town near Peterborough, Ont. and Doug moved to Thunder Bay. Lund said it was difficult to fish like they used to.
However, the annual Salmon Derby changed its formula from a weekend event to a full week of fishing. Lund invited his younger brother to come along fishing with him and said it was like having a small family reunion.
"It makes the trip from Kenora more worth while," Lund said. "This was great. I haven’t seen my younger brother since November. The trip was well worth it."
Lund said there was some wind while fishing on Lake Superior but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. He caught three fish with the biggest weighing in at 11.81 pounds. He said he enjoyed the derby as a weeklong event.
He added next year both he and his brother would return for next year’s derby with his brother possibly bringing his own boat.
Doug Lund said that while he has since retired, both his brothers continue to work, making it difficult for them to get together.
"The fishing derby is a good excuse to see each other," Doug said. "Trying to get the three brothers together is pretty difficult."
Lund came in third place for the largest fish caught at 11.81 pounds with Renzo Ruberto in second place with 12.4 pounds and Robert Oja in first place with 12.58 pounds.
Bob Speer, director of Thunder Bay Salmon Association, said this year’s derby was a huge success with the biggest fishes caught on Saturday. More than 300 people cast their lines in the competition, he said.
"There was a fish that was 11 pounds that was holding the winning position all week," Speer said. "Today, a fish came in at 12.4 pounds and right now that is our leading fish."
The typically frigid Lake Superior has warmed up faster than usual this summer by about 11 degrees Celsius. Speer said the wind and rain cooled off the lake enough for the surface to drop back to normal temperatures.
"In the last couple days I was told the lake had just turned over," he said. "I guess participants will have to fish a little deeper."
Speer said they hoped to raise about $8,000 for the salmon hatchery. The only fundraisers for the hatchery are the derby and the Salmon Saturday event, which helps to keep the hatchery going all year long, he said.
