February marks the month BVFF traditionally holds the White Fish Derby, an annual event for nearly 50 years. The derby kicks off our annual outings and provides a fun event to get out and spend time in Idaho's great outdoors.

This derby began as a way to manage the whitefish population and many fish were harvested and taken home to eat. The meat is very delicate, quite tasty, and when smoked is a culinary treat.

As the derby progressed, our knowledge of whitefish grew to understand this fish as an indicator species of a healthy fishery. This resulted in the derby evolving into the catch-and-release format it is today. Today, harvesting fish to eat is less important to many of us and releasing fish allows other anglers the opportunity to catch this very same fish.

In 2022, BVFF added a virtual derby that today runs the entire month of February. Fly anglers are allowed to pursue whitefish in any fishery in Idaho, take a photo of their catch against a measuring stick, and submit the photo to see how it measures up against others. The weather can be rather chilly and windy; however, the fish are beginning to come out of their winter sluggishness and feeding regularly.

A one-day, in-person derby is held in March and takes place on the South Fork of the Boise River below Anderson Ranch Reservoir. Contestants position for their favorite reach, and fish head-to-head under the same river and weather conditions. This is the real test to determine who is the king of whitefish angling.

VIRTUAL DERBY RULES:

• All participants must be current BVFF members prior to registration for the event.
• Each participant must register for the event. Registration is accomplished using the registration link for the event on the www.BVFF.com website. You must be a BVFF member to register. Guests are welcome to participate; however, they do not qualify for the prizes.
• Derby participants will post directly to our BVFF Facebook Page or send their photo to Outings@BVFF.com. In your submittal add the following data:
• A picture of the whitefish held next to a tape measure. Make sure the tape is readable. See document HERE for methods of measuring.  The electronic picture must be properly time/date-stamped to have been caught during the open period of the derby. (Suggest using cell phone camera)
• Date and Time whitefish was caught
• Location (which river, e.g. Boise Main, SF Boise, etc.)
• Fly used (optional)
• Note: Members without Facebook access can mail their entries to Outings@BVFF.com
• The derby begins Feb 1, 2024 and will conclude on Feb 29, 2024. Registration will be closed after this date.
• By posting you are giving BVFF rights to post your picture on our website, Facebook and Instagram.
• There is no fee for entering the derby.

Please use this (Facebook) Hashtag on your photo's: #VWFD-id

PRIZES:  Prizes are awarded for winners of the white fish derby as selected each year based on the fish's length.

You can enter numerous times. The pictures are not limited to Whitefish. Post pictures about your day on the water.

Bottom line, go fishing!

There are several ways you can measure your catch for the derby.  These are documented HERE.