Catfishermen turned out in record numbers for the 28th Annual Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Catfish Derby. According to derby tournament director Gail Jonas, 510 adults and 118 juniors entered this year”s derby. It is considered the largest catfish derby in the West.
“This derby broke all records for number of fishermen. We had fishermen competing from Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington as well as from throughout California,” Jonas said.
Gene Shogren of Yuba City and Tom Wheeler of Sutter have fished every derby for 15 years. Shogren said this is a fishing tournament that he looks forward to each year and plans to fish at least 15 more.
The overall winner in the adult division was Stephen Cassel of Oroville who caught a 28.1-pound catfish. He won a new boat, motor and trailer, valued at more than $5,000. Cassel said that he caught his winning fish at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning near Rattlesnake Island. He used cut mackerel for bait. It was Cassel”s first derby.
The winner of the kids division was Dylan Armstrong of Nice with a 18.4-pound catfish. Armstrong, who is 8, caught his catfish near Nice at 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening. He won a new quad ATV
The derby started at noon on Friday and ran until noon on Sunday. Each contestant was allowed to register only one catfish. If he/she caught a larger catfish that took the place of the earlier fish. The entry fee was $40 for the adults and $10 for the kids.
According to Margaret Medeiros, President of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, all the proceeds from the derby are put back into the community. The derby helps fund community projects, the Senior Center, parks and other projects.
Medeiros said that this year the derby raised more than $15,000 to be used to help the local community.
Jonas said the derby wouldn”t be possible without the many volunteers and local businesses that donated their time and products.
The final top 21 places in the adult division were 1. Stephen Cassel, Oroville-28.1 pounds, (boat package); 2. Edward Rainey, Clearlake Oaks-27.13 pounds ($600); 3. Tom Wheeler, Sutter-21.11 pounds ($500); 4. Kevin Heins, Grants Pass, Or-21.07 pounds ($300); 5. David Fernandes, Clearlake-19.59 ($250); 6. Collen Adair, Clearlake?19.13 pounds ($175; 7. Troy Morgan, Loch Lomond-19.13 pounds ($175); 8. Matthew Ross, Clearlake-19.07 ($100); 9. C. Ferguson, Riverside-19.01 ($90); 10. Jeff Griffith, Woodland-18.78 pounds ($80); 11. Steve Johnson, Oceanside-18.7 pounds ($70); 12. Gary Simpson, Yuba City-18.63 pounds ($60); 13. Jorge Curiel, Vallejo-18.35 pounds ($50); 14. Jason Castello, Lower Lake-18.24 pounds ($50). 15. Zach Medeiros, Yuba City-18.1 pounds ($50); 16. Lee Sayasombath, Santa Rosa-18.1 pounds ($50); 17. John Hancock, Roseville-18.06 pounds ($40); 18. Wade Stafford, Clearlake-17.69 pounds ($40); 19. Omar Mandujano, Healdsburg-17.68 pounds ($40); 20. Jonathan Ganey, Garberville-17.53 pounds ($40); 21. Joshua Lane, Hood River, Or.-17.31 pounds ($40).
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