12-Year-Old Girl Wins Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

12-YEAR-OLD FROM POST FALLS IDAHO BECOMES QUEEN OF THE SILVER SALMON SISTERHOOD AFTER CATCHING 15.14 POUND SILVER SALMON
VALDEZ, Alaska – Addyson Lyons of Post Falls, Idaho might be only 12-years-old, but she has experience fishing Valdez and was excited to catch the largest fish on Saturday in the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon derby. Lyons reeled in a 15.14-pound silver salmon which not only put her in 1^st place in the Women’s Derby but also in the lead for the overall derby. There were 411 registrants for the Women’s Derby and fishing was the best it has been in years. Most anglers came back with two to six fish apiece and the bulk of the fish brought to the weigh in station were in the 11- to 12-pound range. The event kicked off on Friday evening with a Scavenger Hunt around town and a chance to win prizes as well as a costume contest. With a theme of “Flower Power” the small town of Valdez was inundated with women roaming around town and fishing the waters of Prince William Sound decked out in tie-dye, peace symbols, fringe and headbands.

Lyons won $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in prizes for 1^st Place in the Women’s Derby, the 1^st place daily Silver Salmon Derby prize and stands to win $10,000 if her fish remains in the lead through the end of the Silver Salmon Derby August 13. Lyons is no stranger to winning the derby, as she won the 1^st place daily prize in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby on July 25. That fish also won her $500 cash as it was caught on Big Prize Friday which comes with a $500 prize in addition to the daily 1^st place prizes. Addyson is in Valdez for the summer visiting her Aunt Barb Lyons who lives in Valdez and owns a boat. She is not sure what she is going to do with the money, but said she would give half to her cousin who netted the fish all day. In addition to the $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in prizes for the Women’s Derby, Lyons will also get a tiara and pink Bathrobe embroidered with “Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood.”

Andrea Stauner of Fairbanks took 2^nd place in the Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby with a 14.72-pound silver and 3^rd place was won by Kena Blood of Valdez who reeled in a 13.62-pound silver salmon.

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, James Cook of Bremerton, Washington is leading with a 210.0-pound halibut he caught July 19^th. Mel Grove of Palmer is currently in 2^nd place with a 185.4-pound halibut and Kreed Jones of Chugiak, Alaska is currently in 3^rd place with the 177.8-pound halibut he caught July 2^nd.

Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby WINNERS

1^st           Addyson Lyons             Post Falls, ID                  15.14 lbs.                         Aug 9

2^nd          Andrea Stauner            Fairbanks, AK                 14.72 lbs.                         Aug 9

3^rd          Kena Blood                      Valdez, AK                        13.62 lbs.                         Aug 9

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Leaders

1^st           Addyson Lyons             Post Falls, ID                  15.14 lbs.                         Aug 9

2^nd          Andrea Stauner            Fairbanks, AK                 14.72 lbs.                         Aug 9

3^rd          Ernest Murphy               Bellevue, TX                    14.60 lbs.                         Aug 5

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           James Cook                    Bremerton, WA                             210.0 lbs.         July 19                Dan Orion
2^nd          Mel Grove                         Palmer, AK                        185.4 lbs.         July 5                   Mel Fare
3^rd          Kreed Jones                     Chugiak, AK                    177.8 lbs.         July 2                   Hofshore

Here are some other photos form a very successful Women’s Silver Salmon Derby: