SANDPOINT - Give a person a fish, and they'll eat for a day; teach a person to fish, and they could win cash prizes.

That, at least, will be the case at the upcoming Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club Fall Fishing Derby. Scheduled for Nov. 17-21 and Nov. 23-25 with a break for Thanksgiving, the competition will bring in plenty of prizes for the biggest and best catches, with $7,000 going out to participants in total. The proceeds of the fishing derby not spent on prizes will help support the services of the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club in protecting the health of local waters and fisheries.

"We're a nonprofit, so this is one of our big fundraisers for the year," group associate Dale Snipes said.

This year promises to be just as rewarding and competitive as Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club's previous contests. The sporting event is divided into several age groups for fairness, consisting of an adult division, Youth Division A for kids aged nine to 13 years and Youth Division B for those eight and younger.

There are several ways to earn prizes for the best catches of the derby. In the adult class of competition, the best rainbow and mackinaw will each be ranked in first, second, third, fourth and fifth place, with $1,000, $750, $650, $350 and $250 awarded respectively. In addition, the largest rainbow and mackinaw caught each day will earn a $150 prize. Weight scales close each day at 4:30 p.m.

The derby will also include a photo contest sponsored by Panhandle State Bank with $100 awarded for the best picture. An award ceremony for the derby's big winners will be held 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Bonner Mall.

An adult entry fee costs $40 and is available for purchase at Holiday Shores, Captain's Table, MacDonald's Hudson Bay, Ralph's Coffee House, Fins and Feathers, Pend Oreille Valley Sports, Mark's Marine, Sandpoint Marine, Hope Marine Services, Odies Bayside Grocery, Captain's Wheel, Alpine Shop, Rathdrum Drug, Priest River Hardware, Big R, White Elephant, Warehouse Sports and Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Kids age 13 and younger fish for free.