SANDPOINT — The battle for the rainbow trout division winner was a matter of timing.

Tim Smith of Hauser hooked a 23.95-pound rainbow early in the morning on the derby's final day to edge out Craig O'Neal of Hauser, Idaho, who also hooked a 23.95-pound rainbow. Smith, a farmer from Ritzville, caught the winning fish, which measured 38 1/2 inches, early Nov. 30, the derby's final day. Later in the day, O'Neal caught his fish, which measured 37 1/2 inches. While both fish weighed 23.95 pounds, LPOIC derby rules stipulate that whoever caught their fish first is the winner. 

On the Mackinaw side of the leaderboard John Powers caught a 12.55-pound Mackinaw to claim the top spot in the division at Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club's Thanksgiving Derby.

"It was a fun time to be with you," wrote the club's Dave Gillespie in sharing preliminary standing shortly before findings were verified. "Y'all come back now, ya' hear?"

Finishing in third in the rainbow division was Jim Moore, who caught a 23.5-pound, 34 1/2-inch rainbow; followed by Dan Harder, who caught a 23.4-pound, 35 1/2-inch fish to claim fourth place. Smith, O'Neal and Harder all released their fish.

In the adult Mackinaw division, Powers claimed the top spot with a 12.55-pound, 30 1/2-inch fish while Scott Johnson claimed second with an 11.6-pound, 29 3/4-inch fish.

Todd Wendle, who caught an 11.25-pound, 29 1/2-inch Mackinaw, claimed third place in the division; followed by Jim Carothers, who finished fourth with an 11.05-pound, 31 1/2-inch fish. Finishing in fifth place was Bert Dennett, who caught a 10.15-pound, 26 1/2-ich Mackinaw to claim a spot on the leaderboard.

Fred Colby claimed sixth-place honors with a 9.3-pound, 29 1/4-inch Mackinaw, while Doug Sheldon claimed seventh with an 8.9-pound, 28 3/4-ich fish and Mike Roeder ended in eighth with an 8.6-pound, 28 1/2-inch Mackinaw.

Claiming ninth place on the leaderboard was Gale Belgarde Sr., who caught an 8.05-pound, 25 3/4-inch fish, edging out Shane Wendle who caught an 8-pound, 27 1/4-inch Mackinaw to claim 10th place.

Kole Kramer took top honors in the Junior Division with a 22.3-pound, 36 1/2-inch rainbow trout that he later released. Claiming second place was Lyla Shelton, who caught a 16.25-pound 35-inch rainbow that she later released. In third spot was Fisher LaRue, who caught a 13.9-pound, 32-inch rainbow that he also later released.

Claiming top honors in the Youth A Division is Ember Shelton who caught a 33-inch rainbow. Finishing second is Weston Fournier who caught a 29 1/4-inch rainbow, and in third is Tessa Davenport, who caught a 28-inch rainbow. All three of the youth opted to release their fish.

In the Youth B Division, Dalton Belgarde took top honors with a 34-inch rainbow, while Tucker Shelton finished in second with a 32-inch rainbow and Owen Belgarde finished in third with a 31 1/4-inch rainbow. All three opted to release their fish.

LPOIC THANKSGIVING DERBY

FINAL RESULTS

Adult Rainbow Division

1. Tim Smith 23.95 pounds, 38 1/2 inches (released); 2. Craig O'Neal,  23.95, 37 1/4 (released); 3. Jim Moore,  23.50, 34 1/2; 4. Dan Harder, 23.40, 35 1/2 (released).

Adult Mackinaw Division

1. John Powers, 12.55 pounds, 30 1/2; 2. Scott Johnson, 11.60, 29 3/4; 3. Todd Wendle, 11.25, 29 1/2; 4. Jim Carothers, 11. 05, 31 1/2; 5. Bert Dennett, 10.15, 26 1/2; 6. Fred Colby, 9.30, 29 1/4; 7. Doug Sheldon, 8.90, 28 3/4; 8. Mike Roeder, 8.60, 28 1/2; 9. Gale Belgarde Sr., 8.05, 25 3/4; and 10. Shane Wendle, 8.0, 27 1/4.

Junior Division

1. Kole Kramer, 22.30 pounds, 36 1/2 inches, rainbow (released); 

2. Lyla Shelton, 16.25, 35, rainbow (released); and 

3. Fisher LaRue, 13.9, 32, rainbow (released).

Youth A Division

1. Ember Shelton, 33 inches, rainbow (released);

2. Weston Fournier, 29 1/4, rainbow (released); and

3. Tessa Davenport, 28, rainbow (released).

Youth B Division

1. Dalton Belgarde, 34 inches, rainbow (released);

2. Tucker Shelton, 32, rainbow (released); and 

3. Owen Belgarde, 31 1/4, rainbow (released).

Mack of the Day

Nov. 22 — Fred Colby, 9.30 pounds

Nov. 23 — Scott Johnson, 11.60 pounds 

Nov. 24 — Gale Belgarde Sr., 8.05 pounds 

Nov. 25 — Todd Wendle, 11.25 pounds 

Nov. 26 — Doug Sheldon, 8.9 pounds 

Nov. 28 — Shane Wendle, 5.20 pounds

Nov. 29 — Jim Carothers, 11.05 pounds 

Nov. 30 — John Powers, 12.55 pounds 

    Craig O'Neal of Hauser holds his second-place fish after catching the 23.95-pound rainbow trout to claim the honor in the rainbow trout division in the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club Thanksgiving Derby. While his fish was the same weight as the winning fish, Tim Smith of Ritzville caught his fish earlier in the day. Derby rules stipulate that whoever caught their fish first is the winner.