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Just in time for Laker Palooza...in case you get a really large one.

Big and free best describes the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Coho Capital Derby, which is set for May 13 through June 17. The CCD awards $500 for the biggest salmon and $500 for the biggest trout caught overall plus $100 weekly prizes for the largest salmon and trout. All of Lake Michigan and its tributaries may be fished. Daily weigh-in is at the Michigan City Port Authority gas dock in Washington Park Marina.
For more information, see www.michigancitylaporte.com or call 219 872-5055/

Good deal! Do you know what hours they are present to weigh Mike?

Probably 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., MCPA phone is 872-1712.
Have 24 hrs to weigh caught fish, in case caught in evening or other circumstances

Overall leaders in the free, five-week Coho Capital Derby are Bill Pearce of LaPorte with a 18.95-pound lake trout and Craig Koepke of Michigan City with a 13.5 chinook salmon.
The five-week long contest sponsored by LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau runs through June 18 with weekly winners receiving $100 for the largest trout and salmon with an additional $500 going to the best overall trout and salmon.
The free, no registration required (all you have to do is go fish) contest began May 13 with weekly winners determined Monday through Sunday. The weigh station is at the Michigan City Port Authority, which is open daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.
Both Pearce and Koepke's fish were caught during the second week of the contest. Week One winners were Sarah Caudill of Fishers, Ind., with a 8.1 pound salmon and Andrew Kreighbaum of Michigan City with a 15.9 trout.
Week Three leader is Tom Mullin of Chesterton with a 13-pound chinook salmon. No trout were registered as of Wednesday.
Below are pics of Koepke's 13.5 pound salmon caught aboard Boatre Dame and a Michigan City charter boat catch from May 22, which includes the leading 18.95 pound lake trout



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Some really impressive trout continued to dominate Week 4 of the Coho Capital Derby in Michigan City.
Jim Brahos is the latest weekly $100 winner with a 18.7-pound lake trout. Brahos caught the bruiser on Saturday to top a 17.75 laker caught by Brandon Shidler of Germantown, Illinois on Monday for the $100 weekly prize.
Brahos' brute was barely one-quarter pound short of the overall, $500 leader, a 18.95 laker taken by Bill Pearce of LaPorte.
Top salmon remains a 14.8 landed by Rich Shreiver of Michigan City.
Bud Roche of Grand Beach leads the fifth and final week with another trophy trout - a 17.3 pounder caught on Tuesday.
The May 13 through June 18 contest is sponsored by LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau and awards $100 for the largest trout and salmon with an additional $500 going to the best overall trout and salmon.
The weigh station for the free Coho Capital Derby is open daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. at the Michigan City Port Authority.