The 2018 Blue Knuckle Derby is just around the corner, but this year’s event may have a different feel to it.
The 26th annual Blue Knuckle Derby will be held on Dec 27, 2018.
Longtime organizer and member of the Prince Rupert Lions Club Jeff Carlson passed away earlier this year.
The name of the event is being changed this year, adding the words, “In honour of Jeff Carlson.”
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The derby is a must go for anyone with a love of fishing, but the event also draws many people who aren’t as caught up in the sport.
“Last year we sold 400 tickets, and about 250 of them were fishermen, the rest were just there for the door prizes,” said the president of the Prince Rupert Lions Club Jamie Scott.
The derby has been around for over 25 years, and what had just started out as a couple of guys doing some friendly wagering has turned into the backbone of the Prince Rupert Lions Club’s fundraising events.
“Some fishermen would meet in Rushbrook Floats, throw in 20 bucks each and fish for the day, and the weigh-in would be in the back of a pick up truck,” Scott said, “and today the weigh-in ceremony is at the hall with 300 plus people there and its packed to the rafters, so yea it’s our biggest fundraiser.”
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Scott had fished in the derby for a number of years before joining the committee and planning this years event, Scott isn’t sure if he will get to fish in this year’s event and last year’s derby didn’t go as planned.
“I had my brother and sister-in-law up and we started going down the harbour, and my boat broke down,” Scott said with a laugh.
Some other differences in this year’s derby will be the addition of raffles separate from the tickets and custom Blue Knuckle Derby T-shirts for sale.
Tickets for the derby can be purchased at Sea Sport and at Pacific Net and Twine.
nick.laws@thenorthernview.com
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