The tales of fisherman have long had the stereotype of being big on exaggeration and short of facts, but 81-year old Bill Yarlott, for whom the Friends of Moran annual Opening Day Fishing Derby is named, is modest about his accomplishments.

“I am honored to have the derby named for me,” Yarlott said. “Most of the time, they get named for people who are long deceased. I missed a meeting, and they named the derby after me.”

It’s fellow Friends member Philip Miller that explains the rest of the story.

“When the fishing declined it was Bill that talked about and made the restocking of Cascade and Mountain Lakes take place,” Miller said. “He was instrumental in getting the fish hatchery going.”

The 12th Annual Bill Yarlott Opening Day Fishing Derby, sponsored by Eastsound Sporting Goods and the Friends of Moran, will take place at Cascade Lake on Saturday, April 25 starting at daybreak. The derby is open to children too young to have a fishing license, those 15 years of age and younger. There is no entry fee required. For a donation, the traditional cornbread, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and Yarlott’s chili will be served.

“It’s a celebration of the opening of trout season and a rite of passage for the kids,” Yarlott said. “The event brings about 100 people out, adults fish, but only children can win prizes. We mostly raise between $30 and $50.

The winning fish will be determined by length and prizes will be awarded at 11 a.m. Those who fish, and those who don’t, are invited to enjoy the event.

“We measure the fish in centimeters because it sounds bigger for the kids,” Yarlott said.”

This will be Yarlott’s last derby, and he says potentially the last good year for fishing. After 40 years on Orcas, Yarlott is moving to Maui at the end of the year.

“There will be no more plants after this year for awhile,” Yarlott said. “The holdovers from this year will be even bigger next year and in years to come, but fewer.”

He is proud of his longevity and says it is fishing and eating fish that is responsible for it.

“Last Wednesday on Mt Lake my fishing partner and I caught and released 22, 10 to 12 inch Cutthroat Trout in four hours,” he said. “We released them so they will get bigger and we can catch them again. We were giggling like a couple of teenagers we were having so much fun. You wouldn’t believe it.”