Raymond Francois from Mt. Vernon is in the lead for the $10,000 first prize with a 16.4 pound salmon as of Friday evening.

Thirty-one fish were weighed into the derby, by 29 anglers at the end of the first day of fishing in the the seventh Annual Salmon Classic Invitational derby at Roche Harbor Resort. Last year, 66 fish were weighed in on Friday.

Raymond is in our current Bellingham class.

Good luck Ray

We’re on a weekend getaway that was our Christmas present to each other.