For several years now the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association has been conducting a fishing derby on the Hanford Reach. It is scheduled for October 28th through the 30th this year, and I would encourage salmon anglers to participate. The derby serves a very important purpose. The object of this derby is to deliver as many wild salmon as possible to the hatchery facility at Priest Rapids Dam. This effort has greatly increased the number of these important brook stock fish to hatchery. The salmon season on the Hanford Reach closes on October 22nd, but due to a special arrangement with the WDFW, only anglers participating in the derby are allowed to fish within the boundaries of the contest. CCA members volunteer to man the stations where salmon are delivered in live wells (provided to anglers) and go directly into hatchery trucks to take to hatchery. To get the derby rules and entry information just do a web search for “King of the Reach Salmon Derby”. The CCA has done a great job of getting some terrific prizes for the derby winners and there are raffles, too.