Biggest fish will take the prize, unless an angler gets impatient or their catch isn’t among the 100 largest at the annual Maple Valley Fishing Derby this Friday and Saturday at Lake Wilderness.

Organizers from the Greater Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce, prime sponsor of the derby and fishermen’s breakfast on opening day of fishing season, have made a few changes to the way things will be done this year, said Sue VanRuff, the chamber’s executive director.

“We were doing a mystery weight before,” VanRuff said. “This year, we went back to the biggest fish. We’re doing that to safeguard the fish. We don’t want to have a huge fish mortality (rate).”

There will be three ways to win a prize for your catch, VanRuff explained. In addition to the biggest fish, anglers can pick up an item from the Get It Now prize table, and anyone going that route can also submit their tickets to the It’s Not Over drawing for 20 prizes.

If a fish isn’t “in the top 100, they can drop their ticket in the drawing,” VanRuff said. “Some of this was implemented to speed up the prize delivery.”

Last year, the weigh masters weighed and measured close to 500 fish, VanRuff said.

This weekend, there will be a wide range of prizes to choose from for all fishermen of all ages.

VanRuff reminded that for anyone planning to come out for the event, all state fishing and boating rules and regulations will apply.

“We still have the tagged fish,” she said. “It never gets caught. Well, except once.”

The tagged fish earns the person who catches it a $300 prize.

Another new feature this year will be dinner. The chamber’s partner in the derby, Maple Valley Rotary Club, will cook hamburgers and hot dogs from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday, then at 12:01 a.m. will switch to the long-standing tradition of serving breakfast until noon Saturday.

Some things haven’t changed since last year.

“All of our sponsors came back,” VanRuff said. “That’s exciting.”

She said the event continues to grow via the partnership between the chamber, the Rotary club and the city of Maple Valley.

“Just come down and have a look,” she said. “It’s bringing people together, letting them have fun in their own community.”

Staff writer Kris Hill can be reached at (425) 432-1209 (extension 5054) and khill@reporternewspapers.com

TAKE THE BAIT

For the annual fishing derby this Friday and Saturday at Lake Wilderness:

• The sponsor is Greater Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Maple Valley Rotary Club and the city of Maple Valley.

• Trout derby tickets cost $2 each, while the tagged-fish ticket costs $5.

• “Fish school” opens at 6 a.m. on Saturday for children 12 and under. Guides with all the gear young anglers will need will be on the dock to help kids land the winning catch from a fish pen stocked with 500 trout.

• The Rotary club will serve dinner from 5 p.m. to midnight for a nominal fee on Friday, and will serve breakfast for $2 to $3 from midnight until noon on Saturday.

• More information is available at www.maplevalley.com/derby and (425) 432-0222.