A volunteer holds up a big fish to show to onlookers at Willow Creek on Thursday.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
An estimated 4,300 fish were planted in Willow Creek at Lampe Park in preparation for the return of the Kids Fishing Derby.
Big fish in the 4-7-pound range were scooped into the creek by net before the smaller fish were pumped in on Thursday morning.
Desert Springs Trout Farm in Summer Lake, Ore., provided the larger fish while the rest came from the Mason Valley Fish Hatchery.
Volunteer trout wranglers showed off some of the fish they were planting to watching children.
Today and Sunday, some of those same children will have an opportunity to catch up to two fish.
With 1,200 children signed up and counting as of Friday, it’s too late to fish or volunteer today. But raffle tickets are available for purchase with cash or check over the weekend to help fund the event for $2 each or six for $10 for cash only. Grand prizes to include a $300 Sportsman’s Warehouse gift card, a Tandem kayak, and a four-person fishing trip at Lake Tahoe. The raffle includes 130-plus prizes which will be given away through the weekend. Winners need not be present.
The inaugural derby was conducted in 1990 when 400 children came to Lampe Park to catch 500 trout planted by District Judge Norm Robison, according to former R-C Sports Editor Dave Price writing in 1995.
It has been five years since the last Kids Fishing Derby, which succumbed to the coronavirus outbreak.
After the event is over fish will be removed from the creek and are anticipated to be replanted at Gilman or Mitch ponds, temperatures and water depth depending, according to organizer Tiffany Ellis.
Weather for the weekend is forecast to be mostly sunny with high temperatures in the low 80s.
The Fishing Derby has traditionally been one of the first big events in Carson Valley. On Thursday, the Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club will open the carnival and vendor booths to begin Carson Valley Days at Lampe Park.
Douglas High School graduation is scheduled to take place on June 14. marking the end of the school year.
