Free salmon fishing seminar tonight

COEUR d’ALENE — Just in time for the 27th annual Big One Derby, local sportsmen and women are invited to a free Salmon Fishing Seminar at Black Sheep Sporting Goods tonight.

Four experienced salmon anglers will share their best advice from 5 to 7 p.m.

“The fish are elusive. They’re hard to catch,” said Black Sheep spokesman Brian Knoll. “This is a really unique opportunity for folks to come down and learn from some of the very best people.”

Don and Susan Houk, owners of Lake Charters Inc. and Frisky Jenny Flies, will display their famous bucktail streamers — lures that are deadly on Lake Coeur d’Alene salmon. The knowledgeable couple will discuss their tactics for catching trophy fish.

“(Lake Charters) is one of the longest-running charters on the lake,” Knoll said.

Roger Blackstone of the Lake Coeur d’Alene Anglers Association, a longtime salmon angler himself, and two-time Big One Derby winner Benita Galland will also reveal a few tips and tactics.

“For every angler, there’s a different standby technique on how to catch these fish,” Knoll said. “Salmon fishing is a year-round experience for most people.”

Tickets will be available tonight for The Big One Derby raffle. The winner will receive a $1,000 spending spree from one of the tournament’s corporate sponsors.

The Big One, Lake Coeur d’Alene’s largest salmon event of the year, starts on Aug. 4 and runs until the 7th. The LCAA organizes the yearly event.

“Anybody can fish it,” Susan Houk said. “Lots of big prizes. There’s prizes every day. Makes it real fun and interesting.”

First place is $5,000, with second bringing home $3,000. Anglers can weigh their catch at four locations around the lake: Hutton’s Marina, Carlin Bay Resort, Sun Up Bay Resort and Gate Way at Harrison.

Dan Rife, last year’s Big One Derby winner, hauled in a 24-pound chinook that measured 36.5 inches.

“There’s a lot of people that get really excited about (the derby),” Knoll said. “Attendance has always been strong. The fish are getting bigger, and the food supply for them is getting healthier.”

For more info on the Big One, log on to www.lcaaidaho.com