Her exuberant personality and hard work soon brought her support from the Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery, Bob Simms radio show, the Fish Sniffer, San Francisco Chronicle, The Fish Hookers Sportfishing, Wacky Jacky, Penn Reels and guide Ron Denardi who agreed to help organize the guides and logistics for the event. "I can't believe all the support we received from everyone, it has been totally amazing!" she told me.

Susan Herrgesell, Director of the Outdoors-Woman Program was one of the first to sign up. "Women face all kinds of obstacles trying to get involved in outdoor sports this event is a good way to break down some of those barriers."

The festivities started Thursday night at the Ship Ashore conference building after a tour of the fish hatchery. Teams were picked, guides assigned, Ron gave some instruction about driftboat fishing, and a fantastic barbeque dinner devoured.

The fishing started bright and early Friday morning with most of the boats putting in at the "Forks". It didn't take long for the hootin' and hollerin' to get started. Every time a fish was landed, everyone would cheer. These women were excited and obviously having a good time.

Willie Plunkett had the hot boat and Marty Mead the hot hand, catching and releasing 5 fish Friday. Her partner, Becky Williams, landed another to put them in the derby lead with six fish.

For most of the women, this was their first derby. As the day wore on, the competition between the teams intensified. Concentration focused as it became apparent how tough it can be to beat a Smith River steelhead and 27 other women intent on winning.

The conference room was a noisy place that evening as fishing stories and guide tales were traded over cocktails and barbequed oysters prepared by hatchery volunteers. After dinner and an auction, everyone headed off to bed, exhausted after the long day.

Greeted by a cloudless sky and "gin clear" low water conditions, Saturday saw the guides use a few different strategies breaking into about three groups. Some were planning two drifts of the upper section of river while others were going to concentrate on the lower section of river, and the largest group decided on one long drift.

I was following the main group of boats. By mid morning only a few fish had been caught. It wasn't until about noon that a pod of fish crossed paths with a group of boats at Society Hole. As we passed under the 199 bridge, we could hear the yelling down river. Six fish were caught in less than 30 minutes as the guides repeatedly drifted the hole. Afternoon fishing was tough with only a few more fish being caught.

For the derby, a total of 32 fish were caught, 28 released. Bonus points were awarded for released fish. The winning team was Marty Mead and Becky Williams catching 7 fish, guided by Willie Plunkett. Second place honors went to the team of Terry Born and Trish Sharman catching 4 fish, guided by Albert Kutzkey. Biggest Fish was caught by Lovette Brownfield of Redding, Ca. Her guide was Brett Barber. Her beautiful steelhead measured 31 inches. Nice catch Lovette!

In case any of you were wondering what it is like on the river with fourteen boats full of women, maybe this will give you an idea. Trish came up with this little gem of a story.

"On the second day as I was fishing, my partner Terry missed her cast, as she reeled in, her line caught my hair (it is long) and it wound around her reel. I told her to just pull it out! It was too large to yank. So after a few minutes our guide Albert pulled out his scissors and CUT OFF THE CHUNK OF SNARLED BLOND HAIR!! Those guides can adapt given any situation. I'm thinking of layering the rest soon. We were crying from laughing so hard. I'm sure things like that don't happen during the guys Derbies."

Denardi's kitchen crew outdid themselves preparing one of the best prime rib dinners I've ever enjoyed. For the last surprise of the weekend, Bob Simms from KFBK radio showed up to MC the awards ceremony. He drove all day after finishing his show in Sacramento at 7 AM to make the event.

I was most impressed with the friendly, almost family campout, atmosphere surrounding the derby. In a couple of days I got to know and talk to everyone involved, anglers, guides, derby personnel and hatchery workers alike. Trish's goal was to create an environment in which women would be comfortable and have a good time catching steelhead. If that is the criteria by which the Fish With Trish Derby is judged, I'd have to say it was a smashing success. All proceeds for the derby went to the Rowdy Creek Hatchery.

If you would like to fish the derby next year, make your reservations early because space is limited and every angler I talked to plans to be there next year.