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David Ramey, of Chicago Park, was 12 last year when he caught a 6 and-a-half pound trout at Lions Lake a week after the annual fishing derby there. Each year, people flock to the lake to catch what's left of the thousands of derby fish released there.
Submitted photo
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3 fishing derbies lined up for weekend
By Trina Kleist
City Editor, trinak@theunion.com
» More from Trina Kleist
city Editor
12:01 a.m. PT Apr 23, 2008
An estimated 1,400 pounds of fish will be dumped into two western Nevada County waterways for kids' fishing derbies set for this weekend.
The California Department of Fish and Game is scheduled to truck the trout from Folsom to Squirrel Creek, in Penn Valley, where 300 to 400 pounds of fish will be set free, derby veteran Mike Caston, of the Grass Valley Sportsmen's Club, said Tuesday.
Then, drivers will head to Lion's Lake, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds outside Grass Valley, to dump the rest, Caston said.
The derbies will take place Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.
Penn Valley Kid's Fishing Derby
On Saturday, the Penn Valley Hi-Grader Lions Club and Western Gateway Park will host the 21st annual Kid's Fishing Derby in Western Gateway Park.
The Penn Valley derby is for children 14 and under. The winners of each age group, both boys and girls (5 and under, 6 through 10 and 11 through 14) will receive a trophy for the heaviest fish caught and the heaviest combined catch.
Special prizes will also go to the overall heaviest fish and overall heaviest combined catch.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and fishing will start at 9 a.m. and last until noon. For more information, call 265-3245.
Trout Derby at Lion's Lake
The Grass Valley Sportsmen's Club will be sponsor the 36th annual Trout Derby. It starts with sign-ups at 8 a.m. and fishing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for ages 3 to 12, club member Mike Caston said.
Categories will be ages 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12, catching up to three fish. Scoring will be based on the combined weight of three fish, with three prizes given for each age group. No fair fishing on behalf of a 5-month-old, Caston added.
A grand prize will be given for the longest fish, Caston said.
"We'll sell hot dogs and sodas for 25 cents. The kids get two tickets each," Caston said.
In addition to the Fish and Game trout, the sportsmen throw in a few whoppers to add to the excitement. "We buy trophy fish from Mt. Lassen Trout Farm," Caston said.
Fishing for special needs
On Sunday, two determined area moms will host the No Limits Fishing Derby for special needs children.
"We just felt a need and desire to have an activity in the community for children with special needs," said co-organizer Julie Zumwalt. She and DeeAnna Keck founded Challenger Little League, a program for special needs kids in Nevada County.
Fishing is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children school age to 15 years. The Grass Valley Sportsmen are helping with refreshments, equipment will be available and other family activities will be offered.
"It is a noncompetitive derby. The whole event is geared to having fun and bringing the love of fishing to children with special needs," Zumwalt said.
To contact City Editor Trina Kleist, e-mail tkleist@theunion.com or call 477-4230.
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