SEKIU — Olson’s Resort celebrated its 80th anniversary in style by giving out more than $10,000 in prizes during its one-day fish derby Saturday.
Nearly 300 anglers competed for top derby prizes as the popular resort celebrated its longevity with four days of festivities, Thursday through Sunday.
There were three different derby ladders with the top three winning awards for chinook, coho and pink salmon.
The top prize of $4,000 was for a 20.4-pound king caught by Eldon “Skeeter” Shofstall of Port Angeles.
Shofstall, originally from Clallam Bay, won a close race for chinook as second place was for 20.2 pounds and third was for 20.1 pounds.
Runner-up honors went to Eric Turnquist of Bremerton while Rick Selkins of Port Angeles claimed third place.
Turnquist won $1,300 for second while Selkins earned $500 for third.
Earning $2,000 for the top coho was Corey Anson of Moxee, who hooked a silver weighing 7.3 pounds.
Taking second at 5.9 pounds was Jack Suhre of Tacoma for $500 while Deb Triplett of Seabeck was third at 5.6 pounds for $200.
Winning $1,100 for the best pink salmon was James Ragan, hometown unknown, with one at 5.4 pounds.
Bill Steward of Clallam Bay tied for first at 5.4 pounds, but ended up in second because Ragan had brought his in for weighing first.
Steward earned $300 for second.
Taking third at 5.2 pounds was Ryan Rasar of Snohomish for $100.
It was a pretty big deal to get $1,100 for a pink salmon, Linda Dillard of Olson’s Resort said.
“Most people throw back pinks because they don’t like them,” Dillard said. “But our top pink went over $200 per pound.”
There also was a kids derby that was won by Puyallup’s Brandon Sissel, who hooked a 15.1-pound king.
Kaz Horner, hometown unknown, was second with a 14.4-pound king while Tanner Flores of Port Angeles and Justin Keithley of Sequim tied for third place with kings weighing 13.5 pounds each.
Sissel won $55 for first while Horner earned $35 for second and Flores and Keithley shared $10 each for tying for third.
The anniversary festivities included live music Friday and good food Saturday, which included Indian tacos and barbecued salmon.
Two bands from the Seattle area didn’t show up but the Crescent Blues band, headquartered in the Beaver area, stepped in to play music Friday.
“Crescent Blues came in as an emergency group, and they did a great job,” Dillard said.
