Grand prize fit for a king in Homer winter king salmon derby

Months after the last bout of fishing fever faded into winter's deep freeze, some anglers may finally catch the bug again this weekend.
No, not by practicing the sort of fishing that involves ice augers.
No, not by trying early-season river fishing that's more casting practice that catching practice.
Homer's 18th Winter King Salmon Tournament on Saturday is Alaska's biggest one-day tournament. Last year, 865 anglers fishing from 259 boats landed 136 kings.
With the National Weather Service forecast calling for clear skies Saturday and temperatures reaching 45 degrees, those numbers may be threatened.
Last year, Anchorage's Scott Ross caught a 38 1/2-pounder, the second-largest fish in tournament history, to win. His prize of $18,165 earned him more for a day of fishing than all but the top dozen Iditarod mushers took home after a grueling week-and-a-half marathon to Nome.
Ross particularly enjoyed a rare chance to fish the one-day derby with his wife Diane and daughter Sara. Diane works for Era Aviation, and she was able to get back in town Friday night so the family could enjoy a sunny winter day on Cook Inlet together.
"Thirteen years of doing the tournament, and it was the first time they got to come out with me," Ross said afterward.
Only a 40.89-pound king landed in 2001 was bigger. Often, fish smaller than 30 pounds win.
"I knew right away I had a big king," Ross said. "Once I saw it, I thought it was 40 pounds easily. I was only off by a pound and a half -- but I knew that was a winning fish."
Boats that consistently catch sizeable kings are booked early. One of those is Memory Makers charter, whose owner, Brenda Hays, took third place (and $9,515) last year with her 29.4-pounder.
"It's the same group year after year," Hays said. "We have winners just about every year."
No kidding. In the last seven years, Memory Makers anglers have tallied one first place, one second, two thirds and a fifth place.
And while some anglers enjoyed good fishing, others scored by gambling.
A variety of side bets are sanctioned by the derby, essentially betting on which boat will fare best. Anglers can also place what's called a skunk bet, betting that your fishing day isn't fruitless.
Some 120 anglers put in skunk bets last year with the 50 winners taking home $90 apiece -- funded by 70 anglers who did, in fact, get skunked.
In fishing, you may recall, even after a long winter, there are no guarantees.

---