2025 East Wenatchee Rotary Pikeminnow Derby participants were rewarded with fun and cash.
The 33rd annual EW Rotary Pikeminnow Derby, which took place Father's Day weekend, was conducted with a new
format which included a cash bounty of $3 for each qualifying (6 inches or longer) pikeminnow turned in. Also,
participants could donate their cash award to the Scouting America troop of their choice or to Operation Catching
Freedom, a local veterans' non-profit which provides fishing excursions for veterans and active-duty troops.
In addition to the $3 bounty for each fish, cash drawings were awarded--one for $1,000, two for $500,
and four for $250. EW Rotary donated $1,000 each to Scouting America and Operation Catching Freedom,
and individual participants donated an additional $507 to Operation Catching Freedom.
Participation was up from last year, as was the total number of pikeminnows harvested, although fishing
was a little slow for some anglers. Top fish catchers were Steve England with 251, Sarah Sweetser with 98,
and Russ Bryan turning in 87.
Special thanks once again to our major sponsor, Chelan County PUD, and also to Douglas County PUD,
not to mention all participants who took part in the derby. All proceeds will go towards Rotary community
projects and scholarships for graduating Eastmont High School students.