The one that got away, a comedic conclusion to Huntington’s annual Catfish Derby
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, May 29th, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
HUNTINGTON – (Release from the Elgin Lions Club) There has probably been more than one disappointed fisherman during Huntington’s 40 years of Catfish Derby. But Isaac Vogt of Weiser felt that disappointment as he hauled in a 30 plus pound catfish, only to lose it when the ringer broke and the fish went down. Isaac was able to get a picture and weigh the fish, which would have scored well for the day’s haul. But, all was not lost. Issac brought in a catfish heavy enough to collect the second place on the last day of the tournament.
Missing only one year due to covid, the Huntington Lions have held the derby 41 years. According to Mike Raney, who originally organized the event in 1986, there were 60 more fishermen this year than the previous year, all hoping to take home the beautiful trophy and $500 for the purse. The largest “cat” was pulled in last year by Joseph Luebbe, and weighed in at 39.14 pounds. This year the trophy went to Lynn Seibold of Meridian, who hauled in the catfish weighing 34.25 pounds.
Raney said that he planned to make this his final derby, held at the Lion Lee Stevenson Memorial Park, but he thought he might try one more year. “I thought this would be my last year, but people keep coming up and telling me I can’t quit. I see so many of the same fishermen that we’re like family.” The Catfish Derby is a three-day event held each Memorial Day weekend. The events this year included catfish from the Lion’s cookshack, music in the park by the David Henry Band, barbecue chicken dinner, Duck Derby, Cornhole tournament, Lions’ BINGO, and flea market.
Photo #1 Lion Mike Raney holds the winner’s trophy
Photo #2 Isaac Vogt pictures the “Cat that got away”
Photo #3 PDG Bill Burley and wife Alice call the BINGO numbers
Photo #4 Events are held at the Lion Lee Stevenson Memorial Park
