You can play an important role in this fishing derby without even wetting a hook.
The Save-On-Foods French Creek Salmon Derby is ready for its fifth year, August 14-16. It costs $10/rod to enter, but you can buy a ticket without even intending to fish and still win a prize. Proceeds from the event — last year they raised $4,500 — go to the Marion Creek Fish Hatchery.
"The emphasis is on fishing, not catching," said Russ Mosher, the coordinator of the derby and the manager of the French Creek Marine Pub. "It's all about getting money for the hatchery."
Last year there were 530 entrants. Jon Bates brought in the winning fish, a 31-pound, 11-ounce spring salmon.
Those who do catch fish and want to weigh them in have to do it on the day they caught the fish. For example, if you catch what you believe is a winner on Friday, Aug. 14, you must weigh it in that day by 9 p.m. at the pub. Same goes for Saturday, Aug. 15. If you are up early and catch a big one Sunday, Aug. 16, it must be weighed in at the pub by 11:30 a.m.
Save-On-Foods presents a barbecue starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Prizes will be handed out at 1 p.m. You don't have to fish to win a prize, but you have to have bought a $10 ticket and you have to be in attendance to win on Sunday.
Tickets are available at the French Creek Marine Pub and at the French Creek Marine Store.