The 29th Annual Gardiner, Reedsport, Winchester Bay Salmon Derby will be held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Derby Prizes …
Largest Salmon of the Derby … $500.00
Largest Salmon of the Day … $150.00
Smallest Legal Salmon of the Derby … $150.00
Mystery Weight of the Winning Salmon … $150.00
Three Blue Ticket Drawings … $100.00 each
One Boat Ticket Drawing … $100.00
50/50 Coho Pot
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Entry Fee … $20.00 per person
Boat Entry Fee (3 or more anglers) … $50.00
Derby Hours: Dawn to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Dawn to Noon Monday
Weigh in stations at the East Winchester Bay Boat Ramp and the Rainbow Plazza Boat Ramp in Old Town Reedsport
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Awards Ceremony and Raffle Drawings: Monday September 5th at 1:30 PM at the Blue Box Seafood Company in Winchester Bay.
Winners need not be present to win. Cash prize checks will be mailed. Be sure to fill out all contact information on the derby registration ticket. Raffle prize winners, not present, must make arrangements to have their prizes picked up. We do not ship raffle prizes.
Derby registration forms can be purchased at the GRWB STEP office at 1877 Winchester Ave., Reedsport: Reedsport Ace Hardware, and Snowy River Mercantile (across from the High School). In Winchester Bay registrations forms are available at Salmon Harbor Tackle and the Stockade Market.
Registration is also available at the boat ramp weigh in stations each morning of the derby.
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For more information: call 1.541.662.5505; or email us at grwbstep@gmail.com
September 3rd … Largest fish of the day was a 22.8 pound Chinook weighed in at Winchester Bay. A 19 inch, 2.6 pound fish took smallest salmon of the day honors.
Sunday dawned sunny with little wind, a flat ocean, and a hot Coho bite off Winchester Bay in 300 feet of water. (wild Coho could be caught). The river remained slow for Chinook angling with about 20 fish caught.
Monday’s ocean was rough and windy forcing many anglers to return to the river where fishing remained slow over all. But it did give up the largest salmon of the derby, a 25.8 pound Chinook.
A good crowd filled the seating at The Blue Box Fish Company Cafe for the awards presentation and raffle drawings. Raffle drawings included a complete Kayak fishing package from Next Adventure Kayaks, over $1,500 of sporting goods from Sportsmans Warehouse, guided fishing trips, lots of rods, reels and other fishing gear, gift certificates from local businesses, and even a one-hour site seeing flight in a private airplane.
The 2023 GRWB STEP salmon derby is again scheduled for the Labor Day weekend. Please remember this is GRWB STEP’s only fundraising event. All funds above derby expenses are put into the hatchery and raising fall Chinook salmon to maintain the Winchester Bay terminal salmon fishery. Mark you calendars now and see everyone next year. Be safe and healthy this coming year. Tight Lines, from all Gardiner, Reedsport, Winchester Bay STEP members.
JOIN YOUR LOCAL STEP ORANIZATION, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
