Gary Dudeck of Riverbend Resort in DeTour Village (far left) and Dave Kohring of North Country Sports in DeTour (far right) with the winners of the first DeTour X Atlantic Salmon Derby (from left) Ron Avery, Brian Hilgendorf, and Ken Mattson. (Photograph by Jay Dudeck) "Team Bugeye," a group comprised of Ron Avery and Ken Mattson, both of Munising, and Brian Hilgendorf of Sault Ste. Marie, won the first DeTour X Atlantic Salmon Derby Saturday, June 10. Team Bugeye collected a total of $880 in prize money for their fishing skills and performance of their shallow running "Bugeye Fly" boat. They caught both the heaviest and two of the largest fish of the derby.

The first place prize of $342 was awarded to the team for producing a 10.58-pound Atlantic. The group also collected the second place prize of $196 for a 10.47-pound fish, and another $342 for the heaviest total weight of six fish: 54.96 pounds.

Team "Fish-with-Me" of Stalwart won third place and $98 for a 9.72-pound fish. The team includes Mike and Erica Miller, Jim, Jeremy, and Brandon Spencer, and Steve Stec, all of Stalwart.

The DeTour X Atlantic Salmon Derby attracted 23 boats, and although fishermen say nearly everyone caught a fish, only 10 boats delivered Atlantic salmon in the coolers to the final weigh-in ceremony.

The derby participants raised $425 toward the support of the DeTour fish cleaning station, including $172 in entrance fees, and the remainder in food donations and raffle proceeds.

Several other boats had multiple fish to weigh, but the leaders won with fish nearly three times larger than those of the other anglers.

Organizers called the event a success, owing to the participants, donors, the event sponsors, River Bend Resort and North Country Sports, and the DeTour Harbor personnel, and all the volunteers who helped get the inaugural derby started. They are already planning next year's event.