At 3 p.m. on the dot, David Edmonds raised his mud-caked hands above his head in victory at Ship Creek.
His 48.37-pound salmon caught Tuesday was the biggest fish weighed in by the Sunday deadline in the 10-day Ship Creek Slam'n Salm'n Derby -- making him the pro class champion.
The 52-year-old Anchorage man known as "Hillbilly" on the on creek, began fishing at 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day of the contest.
"I ain't got no sleep and I've been eating Rolaids all week," said Edmonds, whose nine years as an Alaska resident hasn't wiped away his accent from hometown Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
At 6 a.m. Tuesday, Edmonds hooked his prize-winner, using neon orange yarn and two hooks, to take the lead in the standings.
"I've been nervous since then. I started sweating after they hung that thing up to weigh," he said.
No one came within 10 pounds of beating Edmonds, whose prizes include $1,500 and a 14-foot zodiac outboard.
"That boat ain't gonna get wet," said Edmonds, who plans to trade it in for a four-wheeler.
"I can stand on the bank to catch a fish," he said.
When Edmonds hooked the prize fish, about 150 feet upstream from the Ship Creek bridge, Jioji "George Lino was on the opposite bank.
When Edmonds began struggling to reel in the fish, Lino waded across the creek to help with the net.
"He bobbed across to rescue me," said Edmonds, who was saved from falling into the water after Lino held him by his suspenders.
It was the third year in a row Lino helped the first-place derby winner drag in his fish.
This time, though, his fellow anglers voted to award him the 2009 Andy Sorenson Sportsmanship Award.
Lino, 57, had one of his own fish on the line a little before 11 p.m. on the third day of the derby, but by the time he reeled it in, the 11 p.m. nightly deadline had passed.
His 41.2-pounder would have earned him a second place pro-class finish in what was his 20th Ship Creek derby.
"I've been in the derby for too long," said Lino. "It's my turn next year!"
It was Brian Patterson who took second prize with his 37.95-pound salmon caught Monday on a late-morning incoming tide.
Within 20 minutes of standing on the bank in his first derby attempt, Patterson hooked his prize, holding first place for less than 24 hours before Edmond's salmon was weighed.
Chris Hembach's catch was less than half a pound smaller, placing third with 37.51-pounds.
Lisa Dalton was the women's champion with her 25.95 opening-day catch, and Mel Smith was the men's winner with his 44.10-pounder reeled in Wednesday.
All proceeds of the derby went to the Downtown Soup Kitchen, which has partnered with the derby for the last five years.
This year, derby ticket revenue was down about 10 percent from the 2008 derby, which totaled about 1,400 tickets sold.
"We think the economy may be taking a little bite out of the derby," said Soup Kitchen board president Mike Martin.
He believes the economy is also behind the recent 10 to 20 percent increase in Soup Kitchen clientele.
This year, Martin expects the Soup Kitchen earned $40,000 from derby proceeds.
"One 40-dollar pro-class derby ticket can feed an individual for a month," said Soup Kitchen executive director Holly Lawson. "We'll be here next year."
Derby results
Ship Creek Slam'n Salm'n Derby
June 12-21
Final results
Pro class -- 1) David Edmonds 48.37, 2) Brian Patterson 37.95, 3) Chris Hembach 37.51.
Men -- 1) Mel Smith 44.10, 2) Rod Weaver 35.71, 3) Thomas Salow 30.04.
Women -- 1) Lisa Dalton 25.95, 2) Adrienne Glazner 24.02, 3) Maria Robinson 22.51.
Youth -- 1) John Klein 25.73, 2) Kylean Bryant 25.23, 3) Bradley Aga 23.89.
Seniors/disabled -- 1) Bob Ulin 28.69, 2) Bruce Krischuck 26.75, 3) Lane Paule 24.96.
Military -- 1) Robert Phillips 29.92, 2) Kevin Vandersys 26.81, 3) Glenn Bass 22.28.
Non-resident -- 1) Fred Iwasaki 27.40, 2) Nic Cavalous 21.56, 3) Ryan Brinkman 20.45.
By HEATHER MARCH
hmarch@adn.com