SANDPOINT — Area anglers are going to get a chance to get their hooks into a bit of derby fun as the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club kicks off its spring event Saturday.

The derby, which will run through May 7, offers the chance to hook some serious prizes.

First place in the adult rainbow division comes with a $4,000 prize. Second place nets a $2,500 prize, third place $1,500, fourth $750, and fifth $500.

There is a $250 member bonus as well as a $500 catch and release bonus for placing a rainbow that is successfully released after weigh-in. In addition, there is a $150 corporate sponsor bonus.

Fish must be a minimum of 32 inches.

In the adult Mackinaw division, the top angler nets a $1,200 prize, second $800, third $600, fourth $400, and fifth $200. Prizes are also given to anglers who place sixth through 10th.

Junior Division anglers have a chance to claim their own bragging rights and is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 20. Rainbows must be at least 28 inches in length while mackinaws can be of any size.

First place wins $600, second is $400, third is $300, and fourth is $200. There is a $100 bonus for the successful catch-and-release of a placing rainbow.

Youth A and Youth B divisions offer younger anglers a chance to get in on the fun, with prizes and trophies offered to youth who finish in the top three of each division. Youth A is open to youngsters between the ages of 9 and 12 years old; Youth B is open to those from 0 to 8 years old.

First through third place nets a trophy and prizes. New this year is the Mr. Nick Naccarato Award, which comes with a $1,000 prize for the largest mackinaw caught by a youth division contestant age 12 and under.

The entry fee for adults is $50 while the entry fee for the junior division is $10. There is no charge for Youth division participation to take part in the derby; however, they must pre-register.

The Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club derbies have been a tradition in the region since the late 1940s. The story is that the derbies started in 1947 after an earlier 1940s planting of Gerrard rainbows from Canada which brought the fish to Lake Pend Oreille.

In 1948, LPOIC officials said the Bonner County Sportsman Club put on another derby that lasted the entire Lake Pend Oreille season. And, a few more were put on by the city of Sandpoint around the same time.

Numerous area businesses are serving as ticket outlets for the derby, including those in Sandpoint, Ponderay, Bayview, and Coeur d'Alene. Those interested in joining the club and signing up for the derby can do both at these locations. Ticket outlets will display the LPOIC derby poster at the front of the store.

Information: lpoic.org