Press release

The 50th edition of the Blake Jones Trout Derby is “in the books” and by all accounts, it was a resounding success! Nearly 700 anglers of all ages fished Pleasant Valley reservoir and the Owens River near Bishop on March 17th vying for their share of more than $10,000 in prizes. More than 1,300 fish were weighed-in, with several lunkers over 5 pounds.

Cheyenne Yeager and friends with big fish preview

Cheyenne Yeager and friends with big fish/Photos courtesy of Bishop Chamber

It’s important to note that the Bishop Chamber of Commerce purchased more than 3,000 pounds of catchable rainbows from Desert Springs Trout Farm prior to the derby to make sure there would be plenty of fish to go around.

Prizes were awarded by a blind bogey raffle and this year’s target weight was 11 ounces. All participants with fish matching that weight were entered into a raffle and Dave Luther of Pilot Point, Texas was the big winner. He received a North Fork Outdoors Float Tube and a big package of fishing supplies.

Other Blind Bogey prize recipients were Travis Cano and Albert Cano of Bishop, Isaac Gonzales of Lancaster, David Romano of Rialto and Morgan Causey of Santa Clarita. Cheyenne Yeager of Bishop brought in the biggest fish – a 9lb, 4oz monster. Brodie Banning of Bishop was thrilled to take home 1st place prize package in the kids’ blind bogey. Eric Stone of Bishop won the Dave Scadden Kayak raffle and Paul Garrison of Blue Jay, California won the commemorative quilt made from vintage Blake Jones Derby t-shirts. All in all, loads of anglers took home loads of great prizes!

Dedicated volunteers Brandi Cox and Carole Wade at registration table preview

Dedicated volunteers Brandi Cox and Carole Wade at registration table

While the Bishop Chamber is the proud organizer of the beloved annual event, it’s important to note that they rely on a solid group of volunteers to make it all happen. Special thanks to Steve Ivey, Bert Brown and Brown’s Supply for operating the PVR shuttle truck and thanks to ESTA for transporting anglers to and from the fairgrounds.

Thanks to Vicki Simpson and Inyo County Community Work Service Program, Dan McElroy and crew from City of Bishop Parks & Recreation for all of the “heavy lifting.” Hal Reuter and his crew did a fantastic job weighing all the fish and the Chamber is ever-grateful for the many volunteers that helped with registration, check-in and raffles.

This year was the first year registration, weigh-in and awards ceremony were held at the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds and that proved to be great idea. “We heard many positive comments about the change,” explained April Leeson of the Bishop Chamber. “Plus, we were able to enhance the derby by including fly-tying demonstrations, informational displays, plus food and beverages provided by Billy Bob’s and the Bishop Lions Club. The fairgrounds staff was so helpful and the venue worked out really well.”

Large Crowd Gathering for Awards Ceremony preview

Large Crowd Gathering for Awards Ceremony

Many local and national businesses support the Blake Jones Derby by providing co-sponsorship funds and merchandise used for prizes. 2018 sponsors include: 5B Fishing Club, Aerohead Cycles, Alex Printing, Alpine Signs/The 395 Store, Amigo’s Restaurant, Anne Marie’s Home Boutique, Ashley Furniture, Back Alley Bowling Alley, Berkley, Bishop Automotive Center,

Bishop Country Club, Bishop Heating & Air, Bishop Twin Theater, Bishop Veterinary Hospital, Blakemore TTI, Body & Soul, BP Distributing, Booya, Brown’s Town Campground, BUHS Ag Mechanics Class, CA Department of Fish & Wildlife, Carl’s Jr., CDF/Owens Valley Camp, City of Bishop, Comfort Inn, Community Printing,

Volunteer Mallory Barlow with the Dave Scadden Kayak

Volunteer Mallory Barlow with the Dave Scadden Kayak

Convict Lake Resort, County of Inyo, Crowley Lake Fish Camp, Culver’s Sporting Goods, Dean’s Plumbing, Double Eagle Resort, Doug’s RV Storage, Dr. Slick, Eagle Claw, Eastern Sierra Propane, Eastern Sierra Realty, Eastern Sierra Transit/Dial-A-Ride, El Pollo Loco, Erick Schat’s Bakkery, Fish Taco Chronicles, Gillespie Distributing, Hendrix, High Country Lumber, Holy Smoke Texas BBQ, Home Lumber Company,

Imperial Gourmet, Ingraham Trophies, Inyo Mono Title, The Inyo Register, Inyo Shell Y Mart, Keough’s Hot Springs, KIBS/KBOV RADIO, Kmart, KMMT/KRHV Radio, La Casita, Looney Bean, Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power, Robert Lowthorp, DDS, Macs Sporting Goods, Mammoth Mountain, Manor Market, McDonald’s, Meadow Farms Smokehouse, The Meat House, Mr. K Automotive, Mule Days Celebration, Northern Inyo Hospital, North Fork Outdoors, Our Water Works Car Wash,

Quilt Made from Vintage Ts

Quilt Made from Vintage Ts

Paiute Palace Casino, Peter Tracy, Attorney At Law, Pintail Imaging, Pizza Factory, Preferred Septic & Disposal, Pure Fishing, Rainbow Meal Worms. Reagan’s Sporting Goods, Shimano, Sierra Maps, Sierra Wave Media, Simplicity Salon, Tom’s Place Resort, Turner’s Outdoors, Vagabond Inn, Vons, Woodruff, David & Gail, Wright & McGill.

The Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is already looking forward to next year’s derby – mark your calendar for Saturday, March 16, 2019!

 

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