The Lions Club is pleased to announce the arrival of the annual Cultus Lake Pikeminnow Fishing Derby on June 18, 2016.
Club branches in Deroche, Harrison Mills, Lillooet, Chilliwack and Hope will be hosting the traditional event. The event was previously organized by the Cultus Lake Aquatic Stewardship Strategy (CLASS) team.
"They were having a hard time with volunteers so the Lions Clubs in the local zone decided to help out and make the event a zone project," Scott Medlock, Hope Lions Club president told The Hope Standard.
The Pikeminnow is an invasive species that feeds on the eggs of salmon.
The Derby is held on the Saturday before Father's Day because that weekend allows for free fishing with no license required.
Thousands of fish are caught and eliminated from the lake during the event, helping with the local eco system and the lifecycle of the spawning salmon.
Youth, sight, eradicating hunger, poverty and the environment are four initiatives currently being addressed by the organization.
“This fishing derby fits well with the environmental initiative that Lions international is promoting around the world — we look forward to working with class members who have hosted this fishing derby in the past,” said Medlock.
"For those fishers who have participated in this derby in past years, we hope you will be back this year.”
Pre registration for the event will take place at Hope Outdoors.
More details will be released as the event nears and any information can be obtained by calling Scott Medlock at 604-750-8648.
Lions International will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2017, the milestone event will commemorate the service the club has provided over the years, while looking ahead to the undertaking of more projects in its separate communities.