Westlake, Oregon ~ The 9^th Annual Siltcoos Lake Stringer Tournament was held Saturday & Sunday, May 24^th and 25^th, 2008. With 19 participants, prizes and trophies totaling almost $1,640, this was the second largest group of anglers and the largest prize amount in the event's history. And while Steve Small spurred hopes with a Friday catch, fishing was tough, VERY tough! Eight fish for this large group of fairly decent fisher-men and women in two days of fishing is absolutely unbelievably poor!

It was an emotional moment as tournament host, Fred Hilden, quietly walked away with the 1^st Place Trophy and Big Fish for the weekend with a single 3 pound 14 ounce Rainbow Trout. Veteran Jason Russell was the only participant to catch 2 fish for the two-day event securing 2^nd Place. And Erik Johnson got himself back in the money this year with a single 2 pound, 2 ounce Cutthroat, finishing third!

Since we now have several generous donors, including individuals, we changed the prize distribution method this year to be more equitable with the results. 1^st Place down through however many prizes we have will now be allowed to choose the prize of their liking. If we don't have anglers with a catch as deep as we have prizes, the remaining prizes will be awarded by a random drawing of numbers from everyone without a catch.

This year for example, 2^nd Place money was 20% of $475, or $95. Since we had a cash donation from our newest sponsor, Darling's Resort, Jason chose the $100 donation instead of the 2^nd Place money. We also had fewer anglers with a catch than prizes, so the last 4 prizes were awarded by drawing numbers.

Bob Morgan of TreasureLine presented the 1st Place Trophy for the second year in a row. Once again this beauty was coveted by everyone, including several bystanders. Dunham Motors & RV Parts & Service gifted 3 $100 Deluxe Lounge Chairs. Vince Villegas from Westlake Resort joined us to present a $130 Gift Certificate and Dee Gray was here for the first time representing Darling's Marina and RV Resort who sponsored a $100 cash prize. Darling's also hosted free hors d'oeuvres on Friday from 4-8pm.

Thanks to all of our generous sponsors this year, we had prizes down through 11^th Place. A complete list of sponsors is posted at the top of www.siltcooslake.com and the bottom of each year's results page.

This was a year of "firsts;" with 10 rookies, it was the first year we've had more rookies than returning fishermen. It is the first year that less than 50 fish have been caught for the entire weekend and this weekend we only caught eight! :(  It is the first year Chris Chase and Larry Grandfield have missed the tournament and it is also the first year the same person has won both 1^st Place and Big Fish.

The total number of fish caught dropped from 67 last year to 8 this year and the average fish weight increased by 14oz from 0# 11oz last year to 1# 9oz this year.

And finally, just to give you an idea how tough the catching was this year, last year's 1^st Place Trophy Winner, Tom Waterworth, was held to 1 fish ~ a "quarter-pounder!"