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Great, relatively mild weather highlighted a fantastic day on the water for over 200 participants in the 4th Annual CIFFI Lake Berryessa Family Fun Fishing Derby at Lake Berryessa, one of Northern California’s premier kokanee and king salmon fisheries.
“A wide open bite experienced just days before was tougher on derby day, June 10, but quality kokanee were caught,” said Gary Erck, secretary of CIFFI-Project Kokanee. “The weigh masters from Placerville Marine were kept busy tallying over 400 fish for the day.”
The winner of $342 for the big fish side pot was Rachel Smith. Gone Fishin’ Marine of Dixon sponsored the $250 big salmon award.
Gary Coe, president of Kokanee Power, won first place in the adult kokanee division by bagging two combined fish measuring 80.80 cm. He won $500 a trophy for his catch.
“I caught the fish on Uncle Larry’s copper pop spinners and Pro Troll E-Chip Kokanee Killers in the Purple Coe color,” said Coe. “The fish hit at 40 to 60 feet deep in the main body.”
Tim Marble placed second with two kokes measuring 79.80 cm. He won $300 and a trophy. Anglers finishing from third to tenth place all took home checks.
Rick Coelho placed first in the adult trout division with 82.20 cm, while Joseph Aquilio finished second with 78.80 cm.
In the youth kokanee division, Haylee Tripp and Jake Fleischmann tied for first place. They each bagged two combined fish weighing exactly 75.00 cm!
Derek Bonslett, the son of Fish Sniffer publisher Allen Bonslett, took second place with 74.80 cm. He nailed the winning kokanee while trolling Pro Troll Kokanee Killers, tipped with white corn, at 30 to 40 feet deep off the Big Island. He fished with guide Warren Worthington, Lynn Worthington and Allen.
Rachel Smith won first place in the trout division with two fish going 74.80cm. The sons of Gary Erck captured second and third place, with 4-year-old Austin bagging 70.40 cm and 8-year-old Andrew capturing 68.40 cm. They caught their fish while trolling Uncle Larry’s spinners behind dodgers
The sponsors for the event were Santa Rosa RV and PG&E. Markley Cove hosted and provided great support for the derby.
One of the highlights of going to the Berryessa derby for me is the excellent lunch provided by The Buckhorn, a destination restaurant in Winters. The Buckhorn served up a delicious meal of BBQ’ed chicken, Tri-tip, salad, fresh bread and mashed potatoes. After the top-notch meal, many had an opportunity to be a part of the prize raffle that totaled more than $5000.
Since 1992, CIFFI - Project Kokanee - has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Game to fund the continued planting of kokanee in California Lakes. This productive and cooperative relationship has resulted in over 15 million kokanee being planted. For more information on CIFFI, contact them on the web at http://www.kokanee.org.
The winners of the 4th Annual CIFFI Lake Berryessa Trout and Kokanee Derby are:
Adult Kokanee Winners: Adult Trout Winners: Youth Kokanee Winners: Youth Trout Winners: Big Fish: |
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He hooked one dozen fish – and started releasing fish early. “I boated the largest fish, a 16-1/2 incher, around 9 am,” he stated. “I bagged my second largest fish, a 15-1/2 inch kokanee, at 11:50 am, just 10 minutes before I stopped fishing.”