One of Canada’s largest fishing derbies is returning this spring after missing last year due to the pandemic. The 40th anniversary of the Orillia Perch Festival, organized by the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, is set for April 17 to May 15.
This year’s Perch Festival will be different from years past as it will run using a virtual platform via a cell-phone application, says event organizer Doug Bunker.
“We’ve partnered with the computer science department at Georgian College and Snapd Magazine to create a virtual version of the fishing at the Perch Festival,” he explained.
Fishers will still be tasked with catching their daily perch, but now they will be responsible for their own live release.
“Instead of coming to Tudhope Park with your live release perch, you take a picture of the perch you catch and submit it with a registration form on your phone,” Bunker said.
Each submission qualifies the fisher for a daily draw, weekly draw, and the grand prize draw; children will still have their own categories.
“For the tagged perch, we are using a geo-fencing system where we will select random locations on Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching, and the person who fishes closest to the spots that we have picked will technically catch a tagged perch, which increases the chances of someone catching one,” Bunker explained.
Draws will also be done by a virtual random selection this year and winners will be notified immediately on their phone when catching a tagged perch or winning a draw, Bunker says.
“The Perch Festival is going to live on in this virtual way. Prizes and awards are still real, of course, so people can fish to win, which is always our motto,” he said.
The Perch Festival still has the majority of their prizing from last year’s event that got cancelled. Cash prizes, fishing equipment bundles, and the top prize of a new Lund 1650 Angler fishing boat from Gordon Bay Marina are on the line for participants.
Bunker says the virtual platform might be something that is used for years to come, even when the COVID-19 pandemic is in the past.
“It might increase the number of participants in the event. The easier we make it, the more interest there might be,” he said.
“I think we always have to go forward, we want to keep people out there doing things in our community.”
The annual festival typically attracts between 3-4,000 people each year. However, this year the festival is not being marketed to out-of-town residents, but Bunker still expects the event to be well attended by locals.
“When it first started it was directed at tourism, but I think the local population has embraced it as their spring-type thing to do with family and friends,” he said.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Perch Festival organizers are encouraging folks to participate safely and within their own immediate families or social bubbles.
“We are using all of Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe so people can be spread out. Shoreline fishing is something we are a little hesitant on because people aren’t socially distancing as much as we would like, so we are trying to get people out fishing, but not socially congregating,” Bunker explained.
“If you can go out with your family to your fishing spot, or go out in the boat to find your fish and still participate, win some prizes and enjoy it, then mission accomplished.”
Opening and closing ceremonies will be put on hold this year. There will also be no kid's day or social events.
Despite all the changes and COVID protocols, Bunker still believes this year’s Perch Festival will be a success, especially for participants hoping to catch lots of perch.
“We’ve learned from the ice fishers that the perch are just crazy in some places. Their population has exploded with their being not a lot of ice fishing last year, and not a lot of ice fishing so far this year, so there should be no problem with catching a fish out there,” he said.
Bunker says the event is designed for all ages and skill levels and is something everyone can enjoy.
“Get out there with your kids and enjoy it. Fishing is a unique sport that creates lifelong memories,” he said.
During the first week of March, participants are encouraged to visit the website for more information, read an online booklet, to read updates, and to check out registration details.
