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HUGE TURNOUT FOR KOKE DERBY AT PARDEE

By: Ron Wilson

May 20, 2003.... Saturday Bruce Hamby and I fished the California Inland Fisheries Foundation kokanee derby at Lake Pardee. Wow they had a record turnout we were entrants 256 and 257 and there was still a line of guys to sign up behind us!

We launched and headed to the mouth of the river area and waited for the 6 a.m. starting time. At 6:05 we were reeling in the first kokanee. It was maybe 12 inches so we tossed it. Bruce quickly landed another that was thrown back. These fish were no where near the size of the kokanee in New Melones. 

One thing about kokanee, no matter what size they are, they have heart. If you don't let them play there selves out they'll tear there own lips off trying to get away!

The boat traffic was like trying to drive in San Francisco during rush hour. There were boats heading in every direction. 

We soon found that the fish were spooky from all the hardware being drug by them. We took off the blades and dodgers and started using real small lures like Vance's Sockeye Slammers. We caught lots of fish but the ones that would put us in the money kept eluding us.

Around noon I had a good one on. Bruce said "that's the one you need to put you in the money, don't lose him". The fish jumped and I bowed, It jumped again and I bowed, I free spooled the reel in order to give the fish line to keep from ripping off its lips. Another jump and then another, this fish was hot and then on the finally 2 foot air Jordan leap the fish pulled free. "You bass fishermen are all alike" Bruce said jokingly, "pump and reel, pump and reel one of these days you will get it right"! I said "I don't think I did anything wrong Bruce, the fish was just to hot and not hooked well enough"! Bruce just smiled at me without saying another word!

The event was another great one. The volunteers did a heck of a job getting the boats in the water along with organizing all the raffle prizes and setting up everything. It was one of the best ran events I have attended.

However there were some changes that I didn't care for. There is now a two fish weigh in and the fish are measured and not weighed. Seems the board did this to eliminate the possibility of cheating. It seems to me that a simple slit with a knife would answer any question on the kokes.

Another change was a two fish weigh in on trout. Lure maker, Uncle Larry, had a 9 pound trout that was measured. He never even made the top 5 in the trout division! Somehow it just doesn't seem right that a couple 15 inch trout can win over a 9 pounder. He should of weighed a couple of his nice kokes, that would of put him in the money. But leaving a beautiful fish like that in the ice chest would have been a waste!

That's one thing I like about writing for the website at least I can put how I feel in print!

For more information about the event and the wonderful time everyone had go to there website at http://www.kokanee.org/index.html