By KRIS HILL
khill@maplevalleyreporter.com
If you’re name is Nathan it seems you have a better shot at catching the tagged fish at the Maple Valley Fishing Derby.
In 2003, the first year the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce ran the derby that celebrates the opening of lake fishing season, then 7-year-old Nathan Carins caught the tagged fish and went home with a $250 prize.
Nathan Geringer, a junior at Tahoma High, caught Sir Lucas the tagged fish around 9 a.m. Saturday. It was the first time since 2003 that the elusive tagged trout had been snagged.
After Geringer caught the fish, Sue VanRuff, executive director of the chamber said, “we made sure we made a production out of it.”
“It was exciting,” VanRuff said. “He’s getting a lot of attention and notoriety.”
Geringer, a soft-spoken young man who lives in Ravensdale, said he started fishing on Lake Wilderness at 5 a.m. He wasn’t trying to catch the tagged fish, he was focused “just on the fishing derby.”
“I’ve been coming here a couple years,” he said. “My old man took me here (the first time). Today I just wanted to come out and fish.”
A couple hours later he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with the cash prize, but he said he would figure that out soon enough.
VanRuff said the derby went well in general with few complaints.
“I think there was a lot more tents,” VanRuff said. “Fish and Wildlife came in and the agents said if you want to do a derby, this is how you do it. For me, that gets you ready for next year.”
Tents were scattered throughout Lake Wilderness Park on the only night of the year the city allows camping there.
Fish school was popular for youngsters 12 and under while a number of other parents had set up camp chairs on the dock next to the fish pen and fished with their kids.
“Even though there is a wait at the fish school, even though there is a wait at breakfast, it’s a community event,” VanRuff said. “That makes all the difference.”
Dozens of boats floated on the lake while others fished from the shore.
The smell of ham and pancakes wafted through the air as Maple Valley Rotary club members cooked up breakfast. Folks waited in line and even as the rotarians ran low on syrup and used up 120 pounds of ham no one complained as they munched on breakfast and sipped hot chocolate or coffee.
At a table near the beach house Jim Flynn weighed fish while Councilman Glenn Smith bagged them.
“The volunteers are tired but happy,” VanRuff said. “We learn something new every year.”
Reach Kris Hill at 425-432-1209 ext. 5054 or khill@covingtonreporter.com.
