Playgrounds on the North Island were quieter than usual last weekend.
That’s because much of the regular crowd were gone fishin’ for the weekend.
Family Fishing Weekend events drew dozens of youngsters and parents to the water’s edge to angle for the catch of the day.
Saturday saw an event in Port Hardy at the Family Fishing Park off the Sea Gate Dock, moving to O’Connor Lake for Sunday’s event.
The two local derbies were organized by The Bait Shack owner Nita Klatt who was on hand giving out prizes to the participants at each location.
Saturday’s top catch was hauled up by Jack Griffith, who landed a 12-inch rockfish off the dock to claim first place.
On Sunday, Brandon Purdey’s rainbow trout gave him the top catch at O’Connor Lake as participants braved the rain to try a spot of freshwater fishing.
Those hooked — as it were — by the experience won’t have long to wait for their next fix with the annual Filomi Days derby on the horizon.
In addition, The Bait Shack is celebrating its opening by hosting its inaugural spring salmon derby, open now until August 31.
If you catch a 20-pound or better spring between now and then, weigh in at The Bait Shack, off the Bear Cove slipway, to enter.
Top prizes in the derby include a rod and reel combo and a halibut rod with an Islander MR3 reel up for grabs as a hidden weight prize.
For more information on the derbies call Nita at 250-902-7145.