Anglers took to Walsh Lake over the weekend and caught a big one for charity.
The second annual Arctic Anglers Family Fishing derby raised $5,908 on March 10, which almost tripled last year's total of $2,016.
The event attracted well over 100 anglers who basked in the sun, spent time with family and fished for a good cause.
Clayton Bell, one of the founder of Arctic Anglers, created the not for profit group after last year’s derby raised funds for Camp Connections, a camp run by the Foster Family Coalition.
“We thought ‘well what can we do, we can't keep this money. Why don't we just donate all the proceeds to a nonprofit?’” he said.
This year’s proceeds will be donated to Yellowknife Girl Guides to help with their Brownies cabin renovations.
Bell’s main goal for starting the derby was to get kids out and having fun as there hadn't been a fishing derby in town for a few years.
“There was a company which used to do a Father's Day fish derby and that hasn't been going for several years, so we thought, well, better do something for the kids, right? That was always in the summer so we figured we'd do it in the winter time and get families out.”
One of the requirements for registration was each team had to have at least one child. The lake was dotted with children running around and having fun, while most adults sat around their fishing holes waiting for a bite.
A silent auction and a raffle were also held, with prizes donated by Yellowknife businesses. Ben Balmer, another organizer, said community businesses stepped up for the event.
“When we started out this year we were hoping for anywhere between eight and 15 business partners and in the end we ended up at well over 30. It just kept coming and coming. People really stepped up to help out (and that) tells us what kind of a community we're in.”
The cause was a big reason for why so many companies stepped forward, said Bell.
“When you tell people what it’s about; to get families out and to get kids out, and that it's also to benefit another children's organization, that does great stuff for the community. It’s hard not to support something like that.”