Port Elgin man holds on to win $15,000 grand prize at Chantry Chinook fishing derby

Dan Pepin caught his 21.32-pound Chinook salmon on the third day of the two-week, 34th annual Chantry Chinook Classic Salmon Derby, and it held on to win the $15,000 grand prize, at the awards presentation, Sunday afternoon at the Whitney Crawford Community Centre in Tiverton.

The 31-year-old Port Elgin man said he has been fishing the Lake Huron Fishing Club's Chantry derby for about five years and this is the first time he has been on the leader board.

"I caught that fish on July 31 and I knew when I was reeling it in that it was more than 15 pounds," said Pepin. "I got it on a lead core way out, about 600 feet from the boat. My father-in-law was fighting another fish while I was pulling this one in. It's the largest salmon I've caught this year."

Meanwhile, Ernie Ackert of Kincardine reeled in the largest trout, a 22.79-pound lake trout, Friday night, to knock Mike Weber of Kitchener off the top spot. Weber caught his 20.27-pound lake trout on the opening day of the derby and was hoping to take home the $7,500 prize.

Ironically, Ackert and Weber fish from the same boat and are part of the "A" team which includes Derek Griffiths of Kincardine who was in fifth place with an 18-pound trout, and Bob Hicks of Kincardine who won the trout division two years ago.

Ackert has been fishing the Chantry derby for many years but this was his first win. "i just kept working at it, and I got lucky with this one," he said.

There were 1,431 anglers registered in the derby, with 488 salmon caught, and 652 trout.

Following Pepin, with the top 25 salmon, were:
 

• Chris Knapp of Guelph, 21.25-pound Chinook
• Garfield Arnott of Kitchener, 18.22-pound Chinook
• Tracy Jackman of Port Elgin, 18.14-pound Chinook
• Tom Stewart of Southampton, 17.44-pound Chinook
• Gregory Contois of Port Elgin, 16.72-pound Chinook
• David Hicks of Listowel, 16.59-pound Chinook
• Louis Altman of Hanover, 16.32-pound Chinook
• Clark Green of Owen Sound, 16.02-pound Chinook
• Dawn Lee McKenzie of South Bruce Peninsula, 15.85-pound Chinook
• Don Dubois of Georgian Bluffs, 15.81-pound Chinook
• Debbie Brick of Hanover, 15.58-pound Chinook
• Darrell Emmerson of Kincardine, 14.94-pound Chinook
• Andy Stephens of Stratford, 14.82-pound Chinook
• Mike McKinnon of Owen Sound, 14.8-pound Chinook
• Brad Fauser of Southampton, 14.68-pound Chinook
• Rhonda Connor of Hanover, 14.46-pound Chinook
• Dustin Miedema of North Bruce Peninsula, 14.39-pound Chinook
• Bill Wyatt of Walkerton, 14.35-pound Chinook
• Jeff Geard of Guelph, 14.2-pound Chinook
• Dave James of Ripley, 14.11-pound Chinook
• Mark McKinley of Wellesley, 13.97-pound Chinook
• Henry Vander Hyden of Monkton, 13.94-pound Chinook
• Jamie Mielhausen of RR 2, Lion's Head, 13.79-pound Chinook
• Randy Robinson of Guelph, 13.74-pound Chinook

Following Ackert, in the top five trout, were:
 

• Mike Weber of Waterloo, 20.27-pound lake trout
• Brock Wreford of Woodstock, 19.07-pound lake trout
• Craig Wilton of Mount Brydges, 18.86-pound lake trout
• Derek Griffiths of Kincardine, 18--pound lake trout

For complete results from the Chantry derby, check the website at: www.chantrychinook.com/

Last year's winners were Jordan MacDougall of Point Clark with a 23.78-pound Chinook salmon; and Paul Geiger of Stouffville with a 19.86-pound lake trout.