The annual Rankin Inlet Fishing Derby went off without a major hitch from May 15-18, despite a different approach due to restrictions in connection with the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Photo courtesy Susan Hickes
Young fisher Troy Ka1udjak took top spot and its $10,000 prize for his catch measuring 45.5 inches, while Solomon Ford and Iris Tatty-Tanuyak tied for second ($7,000 each) with their catches of 44 7/8 inches and Oscar Airut claimed fourth place ($5,000) at 44 5/8 inches.
Rounding out the winners were Amber Irwin in fifth place ($4,000) at 44.5 inches, Nathaniel Kaludjak in sixth ($3,000) at 44 inches, Richard Nattar in seventh ($2,000) at 43 13/16 inches, and Chris Eccles in eighth place ($1,000) at 43 1/8 inches.
Derby committee member Susan Hickes said the derby went well despite a blizzard keeping fishers in their tents for most of Saturday, May 16, while out on the land at their favourite fishing holes.
She said the prize presentations took a lot less time than they did in previous years.
SA国际影视传媒淲e usually have an annual gathering at the Singiittuq Complex to award all the prizes, but we couldn't do that due to Covid-19 this year,SA国际影视传媒� said Hickes.
SA国际影视传媒淲e did all the prize presentations via Facebook live and over local radio this year and it went really, really fast.
SA国际影视传媒淚t usually takes a couple of hours to present all the prizes during the gathering but, this year, with only four of us there, the winner would come, claim their prize, have a picture taken, be congratulated and leave.
SA国际影视传媒淪o it only took us about 45 minute this year.SA国际影视传媒�
Hickes said the measuring also went quite fast this year, despite the weather being awful.
She said everything moved along smoothly with no crowds gathered around the measuring tables.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople would just pull up, have their fish measured and go, so it certainly seemed to be a lot faster.
SA国际影视传媒淓veryone seemed really happy with how it all went except for the blizzard on Saturday.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were out at Peter Lake and we couldn't see anything. We were stuck in our tent all morning and a bit in the afternoon.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was pretty much over by suppertime and after that the weather was beautiful for the rest of the derby.SA国际影视传媒�
