By Catherine Stachowiak
Those looking forward to the 33rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby, an event put on by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce (KRVCC,) can expect some new surprises. However the chamber warns participants to be aware of early registration perks and hard deadlines.
President of the KRVCC Fred Clark said, participants must be registered before 7am on the March 23 or they cannot get into the derby. “Either sign up on line or sign up in person but you must be there prior to 7am March23rd.”
See https://www.facebook.com/lakeisabellafishingderby/ for further information.
Extra perks come with early registration, according to the chamber. Clark said, “If any angler knows they’re going to be coming, sign up before (Wednesday) March 6 because that’s the deadline for the Early Bird Drawing. And that’s going to be a chance for anyone that signs up before March 6 to draw a Single Angler.” Clark explained that the winning draw is going to win $500, which the Kern Valley Sun is sponsoring.
While the chamber still expects a good crowd they hope to draw even more participants with some perks.
“We’re going to have something new this year that we’re calling a VIP package. There’s going to be 100 of those available.”
Clark told the Kern Valley Sun, “When an angler signs up for the VIP package they not only get entry into the derby, they automatically get the official derby hat. There’s going to be a few other swag items in the bag from local businesses that they’ve added in. On top of that, on their VIP card there’s a number of local businesses and restaurants who have given discounts to the anglers who show up, just to go in their store, to buy goodies just to be here.
“It also gives them one drawing ticket for all of the items that we have in drawings this year. So they’re saving a nice chunk of change just by showing up signing up and having fun.”
The derby starts at 7am March 23 and it ends at 5pm March 25. The registration will be held at the Kern River Valley Eagles Lodge 12251 CA-178, Lake Isabella, CA 93240, at the area of Mountain Mesa.
The chamber has pulled out all the stops to draw in more anglers this year.
“We had a great time promoting the derby on (KLAA-) AM 830, which is Angels Radio down in Anaheim. We were down in studio talking Fishing Derby for two hours on Angler Chronicles. That was a lot of fun,” Clark said. “So we shared the word with all of Southern California about what we’re doing. It was great.”
Clark said the event is going to have a little over $60,000 worth of tagged trout swimming in the lake. “Total price package is a little over $76,000 that’s up for grabs this year. It’s going to be fun.
“Were going to have roughly 75 rod and reel combos, 75 tackle boxes, that are going to go to the youth anglers. Obviously once they’re gone they’re gone. We give away roughly $2000 worth of gear to the kids,” he said.
