Jim Hatfield (The St. Ignace News file photo) When James Hatfield of Pickford caught a six-pound walleye on the first day of the Walleye Jamboree on Munuscong Bay last year, he never thought it would win a prize, and surely there was no way it could win the $600 grand prize for the largest fish caught during the weekend event.

In fact, he thought the fish was so small that he cooked and ate it without even getting a good photograph of it.

"I never thought it would've won the derby," he said.

Much to his surprise, it was the biggest fish caught at the 2008 jamboree.

Mr. Hatfield was excited to hear his medium-sized, and already eaten, fish had won first place, but he decided to give the prize money away.

He told the Soo Area Sportsmen's Club, hosts of the event, to split the prize money between the families of Kristina Peffers of Pickford, and Nick Pangburn of Sault Ste. Marie, who had fallen through the ice and drowned in the bay one week prior to the jamboree.

It was the right thing to do, he said.

He said he helped the families in their time of need because he experienced a similar act of kindness in the spring of 2007, when a local church donated some money to his family after his sister died in a car accident.

"This was my way of passing it forward," he said.

Neil and Karen Peffers, parents of Miss Peffers, donated their share of the money to the scuba diving rescue team that searched for their daughter and Mr. Pangburn for three days. Mr. Hatfield said.

Mr. Hatfield, who hasn't missed the annual event on Munuscong Bay in about 20 years, is excited for the jamboree, which will be Friday, January 30, through Sunday, February 1.

He said fishing on the bay has been great so far this month, and anglers have caught "a lot of seven and eight pounders already." He hopes the fish continue biting in high numbers during the jamboree this weekend.

Entry fees for the jamboree are $10 per adult and $5 for youth younger than 15. Tickets can be purchased at Wilderness Treasures and Dan's Cabins in Pickford, MMC Store in Barbeau, Petersen's Country Store in Raber, and Hank's Sport Shop in Sault Ste. Marie. Fishing will begin at noon Friday and end at noon Sunday.

For more information, contact Wilderness Treasures at 647-4002 or Carley Ball at 635-9703.

$600 Is Top Prize in Jamboree

A top prize of $600 has been announced for the Soo Area Sportsmen's Club's annual Walleye Jamboree.

A prize of $600 goes to the adult who catches the largest walleye; a two-person portable shanty will be awarded for second place; followed by $300 for third; $200 for fourth; $100 for fifth; and $75 for sixth.

First, second, and third cash awards of $50, $35, and $15 will be awarded in the youth division for the largest walleye, and $35, $25, and $10 for the largest pike and perch.

Cash prizes will also be awarded in the following categories: largest fish caught each day, most walleye caught during the event, for the winning fish if it is larger than last year's biggest, and for the first fish to weigh in at 2.4 pounds.