June 02 2026
The Club hosted the Como Lake Fishing Derby on May 31 this year. I’m not sure exactly when we first started holding this event, but “about fifty years ago” is the answer most often given.
We lost a couple of years due to COVID-19, and last year the Derby could not proceed because of funding changes and the dissolution of Festival Coquitlam, which had previously handled the City permitting process. In February of this year, I appeared before City Council to request permission for the Club to continue operating at our range location for another three years. That permission was granted unanimously.
As part of my presentation, I expressed our desire to revive the Fishing Derby, and Council was enthusiastic about seeing it return. Councillor Matt Djonlic reached out and connected me with City staff to begin the process. Heidi Hughes was my first point of contact and explained the requirements. Wondy Chan then provided the necessary paperwork, and Ted Chu ensured everything was completed correctly while coordinating the City’s site requirements and support.
Without the generous assistance of these individuals, the event simply would not have happened. We began the process very close to several important deadlines, and I am extremely grateful for their efforts and support.
There was no City funding available for the Derby this year. However, your Executive felt that the event was too important to our community presence and outreach to let it disappear, so we chose to fully fund it ourselves. The total cost will be approximately $4,500, assuming we receive our damage deposit back, which I expect we will. In previous years, the Club typically contributed about $2,000 toward the event.
Tony Lal of the Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam worked hard to arrange permits and volunteers to provide another pancake breakfast. This was no small task, as many of their volunteers had already committed to other events when it appeared the Derby would not be returning. The Kinsmen also provided a tent, tables, chairs, and picnic tables for attendees. Thank you to the Kinsmen for their continued support.
Volunteers from St. John Ambulance were on site throughout the event and were called upon to assist one person with a cut—me. My thanks to them as well.
Representatives from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (Go Fish BC) were on hand to loan fishing rods, untangle lines, set up tackle, retrieve lines from brush and trees, and offer fishing advice. Their assistance was invaluable throughout the day, and I apologize for not remembering their names. The Society stocked the lake with approximately 1,000 fish a few weeks before the event and another 500 fish just days before the Derby.
I would also like to thank Brian and the team at Sea-Run Fly & Tackle on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam for their generous sponsorship and for assembling the prize packages. They have supported this event for as long as I can remember. Their knowledgeable staff and fully stocked store can help with virtually any type of fishing. Please consider supporting this outstanding local business.
Special thanks as well to Casey from Sea-Run, who delivered the rods and grab bags to the event. Casey also helped several children free lines caught in trees, set up equipment, and even reassemble a fishing reel after I had to step away due to my injury.
I would like to thank Claude Skerry for his dedication in helping organize this event and for volunteering at the Derby for more than twenty years. Members of our Executive who volunteered included Croydon Collier, Paul Noble, Horst Volk, and Hermes Banico. Nick Chow from our hatchery also volunteered his time. Thank you all for your contributions.
Although the weather was the best we have seen in recent memory, attendance was lower than we had hoped, and unfortunately the fish were not particularly cooperative. We even extended the fishing period by an additional hour, but catches remained limited.
Determining the exact number of participants is difficult because there is no formal registration process and some families left before the event concluded. However, I do know that every child present at the end of the event received a fishing rod, and that number was forty-two. There were plenty of smiles throughout the day, but none bigger than Claude’s.
Judges Steve Chatt and Peter Kessler weighed and measured all catches, which determines eligibility for the trophy awards. Steve and Peter have volunteered at this event for more than forty years, and their dedication is greatly appreciated.
The First Place Trout Trophy was awarded to Aimme for a 14.5 ounce trout. She also received the award for the Strangest Catch after reeling in a toy octopus. Eli received the trophy for the largest carp with a catch weighing 3.5 ounces, think it was a pumpkinseed fish. In total, approximately eight trout were caught during the event.
As we begin planning for next year, several improvements have been identified. These include applying for a City of Coquitlam Spirit Grant this September or October, advertising through School District 43 and other channels several months in advance, inviting City Council members to attend, ensuring the megaphone is fully charged, expanding the variety of prizes available, assigning a dedicated photographer with someone to obtain media releases from parents or guardians, and providing more detailed information in our promotional materials. Advertising this year was delayed because of uncertainty surrounding permits and licensing approvals.
Thank you once again to everyone who helped make this event possible, to those who attended, and especially to the children and families who participated in the fishing. Your support and enthusiasm are what make the Como Lake Fishing Derby such a special community tradition.
With much appreciation,
Jack Fletcher
PCDHFC President