LAKE COUNTY — Omar Mandujano of Cloverdale not only weighed in the first fish of the annual Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby, which wrapped up its three-day run Sunday, but he weighed in the biggest fish to win the pro division.
Mandujano”s catfish tipped the scales at 25.27 pounds and was caught on chicken livers in Cache Creek. He won a new boat, motor and trailer package.
Richie Pavoni of Clearlake Oaks won the children”s division with a 21.29-pound catfish, earning himself a new quad ATV. Unlike Mandjuano, who scored his big fish early on in the tournament, Pavoni ran into the weigh station on Sunday morning dragging a wheeled cooler and yelling, “I got a big one!”
Pavoni said he caught his fish in the Keys canals using an unlikely combination of a chartreuse spinner bait with a black crawdad trailer.
Tournament officials said the event drew 468 adults and 91 children, with almost 70 percent of the participants coming from outside of Lake County, some from as far away as Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and Nevada.
Hot weather and mostly calm water greeted the fishermen. The majority of fish were caught in areas near Rattlesnake and Indian islands and in Cache Creek. In all, Catfish Derby participants brought 87 fish to the scales weighing in excess of 1,200 pounds.
In support of Lake County”s new quagga mussel inspection program, Catfish Derby volunteers conducted over 200 boat screenings.
The annual Catfish Derby is the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association”s major fundraiser of the year. All proceeds are donated back to the community and help fund such events as the Fourth of July fireworks display. Proceeds are also used to help the local senior center.
