Cathy Perfect - Kern Valley Sun

Even though no one caught one of the prized $10,000 trophy trout, the consensus at Fishing Derby headquarters on Saturday and Sunday was that everyone was having a great time.

At about 9 a.m. Saturday morning, Raymond Tarago, reeled in a $500 fish. Tom McKinney, Fishing Derby Committee Chair, reported that 31 tagged fish were caught on the first day, with a pay out of $2,540.

An unidentified Fishing Derby entrant and USC Trojan fan, who caught a $100 fish, seems pleased with his catch.

Forty money fish were caught on Sunday, including 15 $100s, 1 $50, and 24 $20s. Sunday’s pay out was $2,030. Forty-five fish with a value of $1,940 were caught in Monday.

Alex and Samantha Olivarez, of Bakersfield, who had been fishing at Auxiliary Dam Saturday, said, 'We haven’t caught anything yet, but we’re going back out. We’re having a great time.' Alex Olivarez said, 'I think this is my ninth year. We love it and will be back again next year.'

On Sunday, Andre Williams, also from Bakersfield, and his son, Jake, 14, were trying their luck at the Main Dam and echoed the Olivarez’ enthusiasm. 'It’s been a blast! I haven’t caught anything, but my son Jake caught two trout.' Another member of their group, Randy Peterson, said, 'It’s been more than fun. What a great way for fathers, sons, grandsons to spend time together, especially camping out and sitting around the campfire at night.' Roy Lingard, of Porterville, and his grandson, Joey Lingard, 8, of Fresno, were part of the male-bonding contingent and very pleased with their fishing derby experience.

'Registration is way up from last year,' remarked Jim Wyly, of the KRV Chamber’s Fishing Derby Committee. 'More people are using the Internet to register and learn about the derby. And the prize money is up, too. The corporate sponsors made such a difference.'

Total pay out this year $6,510: 68 $20s, 1 $50, 46 $100s, 1 $500s.

McKinney said, 'We have two numbers, #3 and #205 that will worth $1,000 for the next 30 days as they were the two $10,000 fish the chamber had in the Derby.

'We did have two of the 25 fish that Pradco Sponsor caught and they were both worth only $20. We aslo had one of the $1,000.00 on line shopping spree fish from Pradco, caught by Jorge Gomez,' McKinney said.