Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Leader Will Donate Winnings To Fairbanks Nonprofit Organization

The following is courtesy of Valdez Fish Derbies:

BIG DERBY FISH PROMPTS BIG DONATION FOR FAIRBANKS NON-PROFIT

CLICK HERE for story & audio clips of silver salmon derby leader Chase Edstrom talking about donating prize money and Krystal Marino, Executive Director for Fairbanks Youth Advocates, finding out Edstrom is planning to gift $10,000 to her organization. Feel free to use audio clips and/or quotes from this podcast.

Shortly after catching his 18.80-pound salmon and taking the lead in the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, Chase Edstrom said he planned to donate the $10,000 1^st place prize to “The Door” in Fairbanks if he won. “The Door” is a Shelter for Youth run by Fairbanks Youth Advocates. In a follow up interview with Edstrom this week, he said he plans to donate $10,000 to “The Door” regardless of whether or not he wins the derby. Edstrom wasn’t sure if representatives from “The Door” knew about the intended donation and encouraged KVAK to call the non-profit. KVAK’s Laurie Prax put together a podcast of interviews with Edstrom and a recorded phone call with Krystel Marino, Executive Director of the Fairbanks Youth Advocates, as she finds out about the donation. 

https://www.kvakradio.com/episode/large-silver-salmon-leads-to-large-donation-for-fairbanks-non-profit/

Silver salmon fishing in Valdez has been hot this year and the fish have been sizeable. That might make it tough to get into one of the top three cash prize spots, but if there are big fish coming in … there are sure to be even bigger fish in the sea. While the winners are not yet decided, it’s certain there are some big prizes to be won in the final days of the Valdez Fish Derbies. In addition to vying for the overall cash prizes, there are daily 1^st and 2^ndplace winners, a 10-day Silver Salmon Slam Tournament and an opportunity to catch a silver on Big Prize Friday to win a $500 bonus. If an angler caught a big fish on Friday, September 4^th they could potentially win the daily, the Silver Slam Tournament and Big Prize Friday.

The angler who buys a derby ticket and catches the largest silver salmon before September 6^th at noon will take home a $10,000 first place prize. With more than a week left in the derbies the possibility for anglers to jump into one of the top three places in the final days of the derby is very possible. The leaders on the derby board are all much bigger than in the last few years. In 2025, Jager Thurmond of Wasilla, Alaska won the 1^st place prize in the Silver Salmon Derby with a 15.32-pound silver salmon. In 2024, Tony Cunningham of Valdez won the Silver Derby with a 13.76-pound silver salmon and in 2023, LaVonne Baysinger of Fairbanks won the top prize with a 14.54-pound fish.

Anglers will be out in force on the final Big Prize Friday September 4^th. On Friday, the angler catching the largest fish for the day will win $500 cash in addition to the daily prizes. In 2025, Addyson Lyons won the “Big Prize Friday” bonus with a 12.34-pound silver salmon. Anglers are catching silvers at Allison Point in increasing numbers and sizeable fish are also being caught in the Valdez Harbor. Boaters are having success trolling near Goose Island and both trolling and mooching are working well. A couple of king salmon are still being picked up at Goose and Glacier Island. There are daily 1^st and 2^nd place prizes in the Valdez Silver Salmon derby, and the daily winners have been in the 10-to-13-pound range the last few weeks. 

In the Valdez Halibut Derby, Rodney Myers of Franktown, Colorado is still leading with a 256-pound fish. Jason Sackmann of Newman Lake, Washington is currently in 2^nd place with a 191.4-pound halibut and Shane Miller of Fairbanks is hanging onto 3^rd with a 184.6-pound fish. The 1^st place prize in Halibut Derby is $10,000 cash. The 2^nd place prize in both derbies is $3,000 and 3^rd place is $1,500. The final day of both derbies is Sunday, September 6^th at noon.

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby Overall Leaders

1^st           Chase Edstrom            North Pole, AK                               18.80 lbs.         Aug 12                Liquid Asset

2^nd          Warren Blood                 Valdez, AK                                        16.80 lbs.         Aug 15                Arctic Blonde

3^rd          Cheryl Wagner              Copper Center, AK                      16.02 lbs.         Aug 7                   Chasin’ Memories

Halibut Derby – Overall Leaders

1^st           Rodney Myers                Franktown, CO                             256.0 lbs.         July 16                Hooked Up

2^nd          Jason Sackmann         Newman Lake, WA                     191.4 lbs.         Aug 8                   Hofstorm

3^rd          Shane Miller                    Fairbanks, AK                                 184.6 lbs.         June 19              Devil Dog

For more information on the Valdez Derbies, visit: www.valdezfishderbies.com