54th annual Smelt Derby and Run

The smelt weren’t running Saturday but little kids from about three to seven or more were, on the boardwalk and on First Street, searching for treasure while being chased by their parents and grandparents.

Families and single guys came to La Conner in search of the not so much elusive as not-present smelt for the La Conner Rotary Club’s 54th annual Smelt Derby Family Festival and Smelt Run Saturday. A school of herring were sighted and several caught, but a seal popped up and the herring left.

Nolan Nettles, 8, won for the largest smelt in the under age 12 group for his three inch smelt. He was fishing with his sister Jordan, 6, and their dad, Nick Nettles. They were staying at 1,000 Trails, having come from Lake Stevens. Dad found the Derby on the internet.

Remy Prasser, of Oak Harbor, won for the largest smelt in the 13 years and older category. Her catch was 6 1/4 inches. She also earned second place.

Each won a trophy and $100.

Nathan Nelson, of Camano Island, won first place for the largest herring. Prasser pulled in the second largest.

Scott Bretvick, a La Conner High School graduate now in Sedro-Woolley, won a trophy for smallest herring.

Emma Grady, 11, from Marysville, caught the largest fish, a 4 7/8 inch candlefish

But whether from Sedro-Woolley or Seattle, grown up guys or parents with kids, folks came to La Conner. Like the smelt, their numbers are dwindling. People also came from Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Everett and Marysville.

Will Fann, of Anacortes, was here for the first time in five years, jigging at The Port of Skagit Marina dock north of Dunlap Towing. He remembered coming 25 years ago “when this dock was lined with people.”

While the weather was more accommodating than last year, there seemed to be fewer lines in the water.

That did not deter Rotarian Dennis Milliken, who again wore his sweatshirt boasting “World’s Best Smelt Derby ,: La Conner, Wa.” He could not recall how old the sweatshirt was but did recount that they stopped using “World’s Largest Smelt Derby” when they realized it wasn’t.

Dave Tracy joined Milliken at the Rotary’s pancake breakfast in Maple Hall after both finished their shift at the Smelt Run, which had started at 9 a.m.

Erica McElrea, 36, won the 10K race, besting 24 others. Toby Walls, 44, was first of 40 runners in the 5K. No results were posted for the Kids Dash at press time.

As usual, the Good family, led by Patsy and her sons Marcus Tellvik and Thomas Kahn, fourth generation Goods, measured the 20 or so smelt and herring turned in for the contest. They were stalwarts measuring fish lengths, giving out chocolate coins and directing fisher people of all ages first to the boardwalk docks and then to Maple Hall to learn who the winners were.

Derby Chair Patsy reported