The fourth annual Pickerel Fest at Gimli Harbour kicks off tomorrow at 1 p.m. The event features a pickerel filleting contest, set to begin at 1 p.m., followed by a pickerel dinner served up by members of Gimli Kiwanis at 4:30 p.m.

The festival gives visitors a taste of what’s involved in preparing fresh-caught fish -- and, set as it is, against the backdrop of Gimli Harbour, reminds people of the heritage of the Lake Winnipeg town.
“It’s just a great event to showcase the industry; we are, after all, a fishing town,” Barry Martin, chairman of Gimli Tourism, said Wednesday. “The good news is that people are coming to the event. It’s attracted 386 to 500 people each year. Maybe some will rent a room, some have a meal (pickerel, of course), buy some gas.”

Martin says he expects entertainer Pat Riordan and long-time whitefish boat captain Robert T. Kristjanson will emcee the filleting competition. He notes that the fish is donated by the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. As well, Martin cites the efforts of Gimli fisher Chris Kristjanson, who picks up the fish from FFMC then transports it to the festival site.

“Chris gets a lot of the legwork done for the event,” said Martin. “He’s been quite involved.”
After the pickerel dinner, the Tracy Martin Band performs at the harbour stage.
The music begins at 7 p.m.

Jim Mosher