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SANDPOINT — An annual derby as a way to manage predatory fish on Lake Pend Oreille is an idea that North Idaho Sportfishing Association hopes catches on.

The goal of the derby, which kicked off Friday, is to bring awareness to the multi-species fishery on the lake, NISA president Chad Landrum said.

"We want to educate the public about current Idaho Department of Fish and Game management objectives regarding pike, walleye, and lake trout and how those objectives are currently being met," Landrum said.

The derby runs through 3 p.m. on Sunday with anglers able to fish the entire Lake Pend Oreille system, from the Cabinet Gorge Dam to the Albeni Falls Dam and including the Clark Fork River from the Idaho/Montana border, Lake Pend Oreille, and the Pend Oreille River to the Idaho/Washington border.

The derby targets the three species currently being netted by Idaho Fish & Game — lake trout, walleye and pike.

"We are working with IDFG to see if angling can replace netting, and are hoping for a huge turnout," said Landrum, who owns Go Fish Charters in Sandpoint.

There’s a guaranteed payout of $2,000 for the biggest fish of each species, $1,000 for second place and a free kids division. Adult entry is $50, plus $10 to become a NISA member, and $500 member bonus for winners.

Weigh stations are set up at City Beach, Holiday Shores, Odie's and JD's in Bayview. Real-time updates are being posted to the leaderboard so that anglers don't have to weigh fish that won't place, Landrum said.

Following the end of the derby at 3 p.m. on Sunday, an awards ceremony will be held at City Beach at 5 p.m.

The sportfishing group is an inclusive one, with the tournament following that same philosophy, Landrum said. He hopes that the derby also helps spread word about NISA and increase its membership.

"We want to bring the entire angling community together for the betterment of the entire fishery - including trout, kokanee and bass anglers," Landrum said.

Landrum said NISA members hope the derby is the start of meaningful dialogue between IDFG and the fishing community. The hope is that dialogue will lead to angling becoming the preferred management tool over gill netting.

"Misunderstanding, misinformation, and pride have led to some hard feelings between NISA and IDFG in the past, but we are now working together," he added. "We’re optimistic that our relationship will just get better as we work together."

While reaction to the derby has been a bit mixed, Landrum said the derby's aim is to provide a different way to meet IDFG's objectives regarding the three fish species without gill-netting.

Most of the concern stems from some in the angling community not wanting additional fishing pressure, particularly more tournaments, a perspective that Landrum said he appreciates.

"Our goal is in the sustainability of the entire fishery from a holistic approach," he added. "Basically, if angling alone can meet management objectives for predatory fish species, then that opportunity will in the long run decrease fishing pressure on favored non-native species-particularly rainbow trout."

Tickets for the derby are available online at mynisa.org as well as at Fins and Feathers in Coeur d'Alene, North 40 in Ponderay, Holiday Shores in Hope and Odie's in Garfield Bay.