With the 21st annual Salmon Spectacular over again for another year, the anglers are collecting their prizes.
Two local anglers were the top winners at the Salmon Spectacular fishing derby in Owen Sound last night.
Craig Rourke of Owen Sound took home the title of largest salmon and Leo Russell, of Holland Centre was the top trout champion.
Russell who caught a 10.59 lb Rainbow trout on Saturday, has been an angler at the fishing derby since 1994.
Russell says he keeps coming back because he’s loves to fish for all 10 days.
He says this is his first year winning big.
Russell says he made his catch at almost 12 noon, in Leith, just trolling back from Johnson’s Harbour in Meaford.
He says he was surprised at his catch because you don’t normally make a catch at that time of day — he adds that you never really know when their going to bite.
Rourke caught a 22.44 lb salmon while fishing in the Owen Sound Harbour last Monday.
Rourke made his catch at 8:30 PM on the South side of Thompson’s Hole.
He says he has been coming to the fishing derby with his brother and dad for the last seven years because he loves spending time with his family.
Rourke says they spent about 75 hours fishing on the water during the past 10 days.
He says he hasn’t even been close to winning in the past years — This is his first year to catch a fish in the past three years.
Rourke says he is ecstatic because he is a new owner of a G3 Boat Angler.
He says waiting out the rest of the derby was difficult because he thought someone was going to beat him out at the last minute.
Rourke catch by passes the previous leader by almost 4 lbs.
