According to a recent press release by the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau, the first Mammoth Lakes Million Dollar Troutstock event was a huge success.
On Labor Day Weekend, the Visitors Bureau and the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation in partnership with the Mammoth Art Guild featured a Fine Art Festival, various games, live entertainment, trout cooking demonstrations and a Million Dollar Trout Competition.
"We had 70 people pre-registered for the tagged trout competition, and hoped to have at least another 200 register on site. In the end, we had a grand total of 724 registered anglers for the competition," said Sandra Di Domizio, Special Events Manager for The Town of Mammoth Lakes. "We exceeded our initial expectations and at the same time, we also raised $7,240 for the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation."
"I have never been part of such a successful inaugural event," said Tomi Fitzgerald, representative from SCA Promotions Ð the insurance company that insured the purse for the tagged trout competition.
100 tagged Alpers trout were planted in George, Mamie, Mary and Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, all located in the Mammoth Lakes Basin.
Over the course of the weekend, 11 of them were caught.
The 11 anglers who caught them were all entered into a drawing for a chance to win $1,000,000 by matching five envelopes.
One lucky angler, Glen Jordan from Lancaster, Calif., had the chance to open a series of envelopes until he matched five of a kind.
In the end, he opened five that read "Family Vacation," which consisted of a luxury family fishing vacation in Mammoth Lakes, including lodging at The Village, free fly fishing lessons and guide service, a shopping spree, spa services, a 6-person inflatable boat and motor, and free fishing tackle and gear totaling over $8,200.
The other 10 anglers walked away with prizes valued between $1000 and $3000 each.
Also delighted with the success of the event is Tim Alpers of the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation.
Using this event as a platform to raise funds for the State Hatchery on the chopping block, Tim Alpers spearheaded a raffle for an aluminum boat and motor.
Besides the raffle ticket that each registered participant received in their welcome kits, the Foundation sold an additional $4,000 worth of tickets.
"This event was integral to our success in proving the importance of the Hot Creek Hatchery to the fishing and recreation industries. Not only did we raise funds to keep it open a bit longer, but we introduced many families to the joys of fishing in our waters. We couldn't have asked for a better reward than that" said Alpers.
