One of the first fishing events every spring is the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby at Burke Lake. This is always a great way to celebrate the start of our fishing seasons that begin in the Columbia Basin on March 1st. The derby is usually scheduled for the first weekend in March and is often postponed as there is still ice covering the lake. With the cold weather we’ve had recently and is forecast for the immediate future, the derby organizers have changed the date for this year’s trout derby. It is now scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd. This should be more than enough time for the ice to clear off the lake and fishing should be excellent by then. Burke Lake will be open to fishing on March 1st, but anglers will most likely be frustrated by ice. Even if you think that other anglers have had a chance to catch fish before the derby, organizers always add a fresh batch of fish just prior to the derby. They put some really big fish in Burke at that time. So, dig out your calendars and make sure you adjust the date of the Burke Lake Trout Derby to Saturday, March 23rd.