Painting textured cinder blocks on a hot summer day might not be much fun, but Pete Everson and others involved with the new fish cleaning station at the Hazelton Street Boat Launch will be rewarded this weekend, when the Third Annual St. Ignace Salmon Derby is hosted here.

“I’ve never painted anything so difficult in my entire life,” Mr. Everson, the chairperson of the derby. “Those textured blocks are really tough. But having this cleaning station is really nice and having it here makes a lot of sense.”

The station was complete Friday, August 12, which met the goal of the Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club to have it ready for the salmon derby. No longer will anglers have to travel to Dock No. 3 to clean their fish. Under construction since May, the station was funded primarily by the St. Ignace Community Foundation and last year’s derby proceeds and was built by volunteers. Many of the materials were donated.

“There are still some odds and ends of things we have to do, but everything’s come together really well,” said Jimmie Miller, the Sportsmen’s Club member who has led the project. “Being able to use this facility is a lot easier and convenient for fishermen.”

He added that City Manager Gary Heckman and Public Works Director Les Therrian worked hard to move the project through the city and get it approved by the council.

This year’s salmon derby has been condensed to two days, said Mr. Everson, with fishermen competing from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, August 27, and from 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, August 28.

“We had some folks who said they had a hard time getting Friday off,” said Mr. Everson, “and we just saw a lot of tired fishermen by the third day.”

The final weigh-in and awards will be at 2 p.m. Sunday near the station and Mr. Everson said the organizers are trying to get some temporary bleachers for people to sit on during the ceremony. First place for the biggest salmon in the Individual Division will be at least $1,000, depending on final registration figures, and cash prizes will go at least 30 deep. The Boat Division will feature cash payments each day to the top three boats with the three heaviest salmon caught that day, with first winning $300, second $200, and third $100.

Door prizes will be given, said Mr. Everson, including depth finders, downriggers, and gift certificates from area businesses. He is hoping for a field of at least 50 boats.

Everything will begin Friday night before the fishing begins with a meeting and cookout for all captains and their guests at 7:30 p.m., also near the station. Entry fee is $150 per boat and those who still wish to enter, or to volunteer to help with the event, can call the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce at 643-8717 or Mr. Everson at 643-9219. Money raised from the event will benefit the St. Ignace Sports Boosters.

While the launch site is the Hazelton Ramp, boats may also moor and take off from the St. Ignace Marina. The most popular fishing areas in the past, said Mr. Everson, have been the southeast and west sides of Mackinac Island and the area directly in front of Moran Bay south to the Coast Guard Station. “The fishing has been kind of spotty this year,” he said. “It was more consistent earlier in the summer. But there are still some nice fish being caught in the 20-pound range.”