A nice surge of salmon entered the Brewster Pool last weekend, and really helped boost the numbers of fish caught during the Budweiser-Lowrance King Salmon Derby. The total catch was off from last year, but anglers fill the top 20 spots on the leader board with big kings.

Ralph Tipton was at the top of the board when the dust cleared on Sunday, winning the derby with a 33.84-pound fish. He accepted a check for $1,200.00 from derby organizer J.D. Smith. Winning the youth division top honors was Levi Deshenne. He collected $475.00 for his 19.56-pound king.

Fishing has been very slow here off the mouth of the Okanogan River, but a total of 54 fish were weighed in during the three-day derby, indicating that although late, the fish are beginning to arrive in very good numbers.

Fishing will improve dramatically in the Brewster Pool, and while sockeye catches will diminish, triploids will replace them as an alternative to summer runs for anglers scratching for fish after the early morning bite. Anglers should expect better fishing below Wells Dam as well. You can visit brewstersalmonderby dot com for all the details on the derby.