Everyone benefits from derby

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A year ago, a group of civic-minded St. John Valley residents got together and hatched a plan to take advantage of a natural resource that had been unintentionally foisted upon them by Quebec fish and game officials.

Muskellunge – “muskies” to those who fish for them – were introduced in a Quebec lake in 1970 and had been in the St. John River for years. They weren’t going anywhere (except, it seems, farther and farther down river, and into more and more waters previously inhabited by salmon and trout). And a group of folks from the Fort Kent area decided to stop griping and start taking advantage of the presence of this monstrous game fish.

The result: The Fort Kent International Muskie Fishing Derby.

Last weekend, organizers staged their second annual derby, and an interesting (if unsurprising) thing happened.

Anglers flocked to Fort Kent. They immersed themselves in the festival atmosphere. And they had a great time.

On Tuesday, I told you a bit about the people who split the $5,000 prize pool. But that’s only a small piece of the story.

Here are a few more tidbits to digest … and savor.

By the numbers: As you probably already know, 206 anglers participated in the tournament. That total was up from 87 in 2004.

On Saturday, nine muskies were registered. On Saturday, 22 more were weighed and measured.

That, despite low water in the St. John River that forced many anglers into the same deep holes, and sent others to Glazier Lake, a muskie hotspot most easily accessible from the Canadian side of the border.

After anglers return home and tell their friends and fishing buddies about how much fun they had, organizers can expect another big jump in entrants next year.

My advice to the folks from Fort Kent (though they obviously don’t need my help in figuring out how to stage a successful event): Cap the entries at a predetermined level, whether that’s 500 or 600 or 1,000 fishermen.

Why? Because before long, more than that many fishermen will want to compete. Trust me. The event was that much fun, and it’ll grow each year, as long as Fort Kent continues to roll out the red carpet like it did over the weekend.

And with unlimited entries, at some point, the quality of each angler’s experience will diminish and the reputation of the derby will begin to suffer.

With 206 anglers on the water (even during low water, which was the case this year), there’s plenty of space for everyone. Is that true if 700 show up? Local organizers can figure out what the optimum number of anglers is … but the sooner they figure out what that level is, the better off everyone will be five or 10 years from now.

What’s cooking? Muskie, of course. An unexpected fringe benefit of participating in the derby (or of simply hanging around the big staging tent on Main Street) was the chance to nibble on some of the fish that had been brought to town by successful anglers.

Many anglers loved to catch the fish, and wanted to take their shot at the $2,500 first prize check, but didn’t know the first thing about actually cooking a muskie.

Thankfully, Ron Jandreau and a crew of others were on hand to put together a makeshift feast.

Anglers who donated their fish to the cause got to watch as Jandreau and others filleted their fish, wrapped it in tinfoil, and tossed it on a nearby grill.

At about 8 p.m. Saturday, there was plenty of muskie for everybody … and nearly everybody who sampled it was impressed with the flavor of the delicate white fillets. Bony? A bit. But tasty? You bet.

What do you do in the St. John Valley when you’re done fishing? Dance, of course.

Those who’ve never spent much time in northern Maine often assume there’s nothing to do “in the middle of nowhere.”

One trip to a Valley town during a big event – and this certainly qualifies – will change their minds.

On Saturday night, Main Street bustled with activity as a band played from a flatbed truck. Many anglers and residents – young and old alike – milled back and forth and enjoyed the music. Others sat in cars and pickup trucks with their windows open and chatted with friends who ambled by.

The middle of nowhere? Not even close.

How about the economic impact? I’m not an economist, but I can tell you that folks from all over the state made some extra cash on this year’s derby.

Gas? Everybody needed it. Food? Ditto. And while many derby anglers were St. John Valley residents, many others weren’t. Some traveled from other parts of Maine, and several non-Mainers made a point of including the derby in their vacation plans.

But even that doesn’t really tell the whole story. This anecdote may help.

One fishing party I met had targeted trout, bass, pickerel, togue and salmon over the course of the summer. But when it came to muskie fishing, they were a bit short on tackle.

The solution: Go shopping.

After an extended visit to their hometown sporting goods store, the party emerged … $500 lighter in the wallet, but ready for muskies … and a memorable weekend in a friendly northern Maine town.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.