Elks of Canada hosting Father’s Day fishing derby at Fort Nelson’s Andy Bailey Regional Park

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Families looking to fish can head out to Andy Bailey Regional Park and Campground near Fort Nelson this Father’s Day weekend.

The park will host the 13th annual Family Fishing Derby, organized by the local chapter of the service organization Elks of Canada, over two days starting on Saturday, June 20th.

According to its website, the volunteer-led outfit has been in operation since 1912, and its vision is to be “the best volunteer organization” in Canadian communities.

It is a chapter of the international organization, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE).

Fishing derbies, where contestants compete to land the heaviest or most fish during a day, will also feature cash prizes and a 50/50 draw.

Organizer Yale Haayer is a Lead Knight with the Elks of Canada’s Fort Nelson chapter, BPOE #400, and told Energeticcity.ca Elks of Canada had initially hosted their fishing derby on Canada Day, to avoid a conflict with the local Rotary Club, which hosted a similar event.

He expects “warm conditions” and lots of families bonding on the water when the event gets underway.

“A lot of the other young families around town love to come out there,” Haayer told Energeticcity.ca. “ It is a great lake for the kids.”

“The water is nice and warm, and there are few leeches and [people] like coming up because it’s close to town.”

Registration for the event will take place right on the lake, with an entry fee of $25 for adults and $5 for children.

Overnight camping will also be available, with participants encouraged to dress up their sites with a Father’s Day theme. 

The top adult and child under 16 years old will receive a cash prize, about 40 per cent of the registration fees each, with the additional 20 per cent going towards Elks of Canada’s Fort Nelson chapter.

According to Haayer, this money will go toward lakeside equipment courtesy of Elks of Canada. 

“[In the] last few years, we have bought kayaks and paddle boats for everybody to use,” said Haayer. “[In addition] there are all the light jackets and paddles for the event.”

“[This way] we at least have some watercraft down there for people to use.”

The 13th annual Elks Family Fishing Derby goes over two days, on Saturday, June 20th and Sunday, June 21st, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at Andy Bailey Regional Park and Campground, located at Service 399, Mile 265/KM 427 Alaska Highway south of Fort Nelson.