Balfour Gill and Gift

Special Events

4th Annual Gill and Gift 15 and Under Squawfish Derby 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007

Over 1000 fish in!

The 15 and Under Balfour Gill and Gift Squawfish Derby was again a Huge success. Held as usual on the Saturday of the long weekend in September, 62 children from all over the province and even as far away as California joined in for a day of fishing and celebrating with prizes valued at over 1200..00 dollars given away to the winners and participants. The event, held each year by the Balfour Gill and Gift, aids in removing the Balfour area of many of the resident squawfish from the lake. This fish population is growing at great proportions in the lake. They are known to destroy or eat the eggs and young fry of resident rainbow and other game fish. Even though they are a necessary part of the eco system that helps clean the lake when they overrun the lake in lopsided numbers they can create a lot of damage as well.

Each year the children fish along the water's edge to try to remove as many as possible. This year, as in the past, the kids brought in over 1000 squawfish. The largest being 4 pounds 10 ounces.

The winners of the derby this year were as follows:

In the "Biggest Fish" category were:

Joelle Lino Wiseman of Balfour B.C.- First place with 4 pounds 10 ounces

Nicolas Gebhart of Balfour B.C.- second with 2 pounds 11 ounces

and Frank Fowler of Harrop B.C. - third with 2 pounds 7 ounces

Honorable mention goes to Connor Robertson of Kaslo B.C. -with a fish of 2 pounds 5 ounces and Josh Blank of Trail B.C. -with 2 pounds 5 ounces as well.

"Most Fish In" winners were:

Stepan Stanesic of Castlegar 250 fish

Doug Rilkoff of South Slocan 213 fish

Kyle Erickson of Balfour 151 fish

Honourable mention to Joelle 134 fish and Alyssa Berdusco with 64 fish.

Every Year this event is held in the hopes that we can encourage more young people to take up the fine sport of fishing.

Volunteers come from Cranbrook and Harrop as well as Balfour to help with the event. The event is growing by word or mouth each year even though very little advertising is done. It is a neat thing that winds up summer holidays for the kids before they head back to school. Registration for kids 15 and under is free and after the weigh and count in the party is held in the parking lot at Gill and Gift/Cedar Glen Campground where all the food and prizes are donated or provided by the Gill and Gift. ( note a list of these people and companies can be seen below ).

Quite a number of people are actually coming to Balfour and camping for the Labour day weekend now just to get in on the derby. If you have children or grandchildren and think it might be something you would like to get involved in for next year just call the Gill and Gift for more info on the next one. You'll be glad you did.

The Tally Board These Records show only Personal Bests over 50 fish or 2 lbs
Over 50 Club	2 & Over Club
Stepan Stanesic 343 2005	Joelle Lino Wiseman 4lbs 10oz 2007
Doug Rilkoff 261 2005	Kyle Erickson 3.0 2006
Kyle Erickson 151 2007	Abbey Hagman 2lbs 15 oz 2006
Joelle Lino Wiseman 134 2007	Josh Blank 2 lbs 14 oz 2006
Tyler Simpson 129 2006	Stepan Stanesic 2lbs 13oz 2006
	Nicolas Gebhart 2 lbs 11 oz 2007
	Frank Fowler 2 lbs 7 oz 2007
Casey Harrison 71 2006	Brooke Robertson 2 lbs 6 oz 2006
	Connor Robertson 2lbs 5oz 2007
Spensor Thast 54 2004	Isaiah Fee 2 lbs 2 oz 2004
Ben Lemarquand 53 2005	Alex Sutherland 2.2 lbs 2006
	Greg Elliot 2 lbs 1 oz 2004
	Eric Bollanott 2lbs 1 oz 2004
	Mike Mucha 2.0 lbs 2005
	Dustin Armstrong 2.0 lbs 2005
	Wayne MacLean 2.0 lbs

Note: If we have missed anyone, please contact us and we will be pleased to add your information. More pictures in the Photo Gallery.

A special thank you ...

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their kind help and generous gifts towards the 4th Annual Squawfish Derby.

Birchgrove R.V.Park, Balfour Superette, Blue Sky Imports, Cedar Glen Campground, Coca Cola Company, Down Under Diving, Eagleview Par 3, Gerry Erickson, Ken and Glenna Hall, Karjack Holdings, KC Gifts Cranbrook, Kootenay Lake Automotive, Kokanee Park Marine, Mega Silkscreening Cranbrook, Mike Khadikin Bait, Mirage Eyewear, Old World Bakery, Pepsi, RedL Sports, Nelson Credit Union, Nelson Saveon Foods, Nelson Safeway, Seapro Distributing, Shimano/Deep Blue Sales, Stan Jackson, Westarm Outdoors Club, Van Hellemond Sporte, as well as Pat and Dave Sabo/Balfour, Ken Kaye/Proctor, John and Kathy Hagman/Cranbrook who helped us with all the day's work.

Thank you for one of our best derbies yet!!! Pictures follow chatty faces
Randy and Truus/Balfour Gill and Gift

2006 Bill King Derby Winners

Jeff Bond 1st

Kirk Daley 2nd

Helen Erickson 3rd

Wayne Henderson Bill King Derby Winner for 2007

Don Currie -29 inch second place win no picture, draw for third