By ERINN NELSON

Special to the Sounder

Philip Miller has watched the children, who participated in the Annual Bill Yarlott Fishing Derby years ago grow up and bring their own kids back.

When he was a boy, Miller said that “Opening day was a big deal.”

Under his watch the Cascade Lake opening day derby has become more popular, drawing fishers from across the county.

Miller said, “Participation has gone up steadily,” with 38 participants this year and more than 30 last year.

Miller, a friend of Bill Yarlott the namesake and founder, has been running the derby for the last 16 years. Miller served as the President of Friends of Moran for ten years from 1997-2007, and has remained a friend to the state park and a big time fishing enthusiast.

“I have pretty much lived beside and in the park,” Miller said of his love for Moran State Park and fishing.

The fishing derby is sponsored by Friends of Moran and takes place the last weekend of every April at Cascade Lake in Moran State Park. In 1996, the first year of the inter-island derby tradition, adults and children competed for prizes. However it became a kids-only derby the next year.

“The idea is to have fun,” Miller said.

But fun and fish aren’t the only rewards.

Every year the fishers get prizes donated from the community.

This year’s prizes were donated by Friends of Moran, Orcas Outfitters, Island Hardware, and Friday Harbor’s King’s Marine. The participants are also treated to a meal as a benefit from Friends of Moran.

“Bill was famous for his chili,” Miller said.

And Miller has become famous for his pancakes. But next year there will be a surprise menu.

This year Miller announced he would be retiring from the derby and handing over the leadership role to Oleg Ashirov.

Ashirov’s son Makar placed third in this year’s derby with a fish measuring 16.5 inches. Second place went to Friday Harbor’s Kai Whalen with a fish measuring 16.75 inches. First place went to Christian Heisinger whose fish measured 17 inches.

Many of the fish caught were Kokanee, the land-locked salmon that are cultivated at the Friends of Moran’s Moran Creek Kokanee Fish Hatchery. For those who are curious about their life cycle there is a live exhibit and guided hatchery hikes. There is also a live “newtarium” featured in the Summit Learning Center. It provides visitors an up-close look at the rough skinned newts that call Summit Lake home. For more information visit the Friends of Moran website at: www.friendsofmoran.com.