I am writing this letter to voice my displeasure will all of the Bakersfield News Media in their NON-COVERAGE of one of the largest events in Kern County this year. On April 4,5, and 6, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce held it’s 20th annual fishing derby on Isabella Lake. We had a total of over $200,000 in prizes available for the over 8,800 participants. Two Kern County residents, one from Bodfish and the other from Bakersfield won $10,000 each, and a woman from Delano won $1,000 for catching the longest trout in the tournament. The event drew over 10,000 people to the Kern River Valley filling up all the Motels, Restaurants, and Businesses.

The week prior to the Derby, all of the media outlets in Bakersfield, The Bakersfield Californian, Channel 17, Channel 23, and Channel 29, were contacted and invited to cover the event. On Saturday April 4, I personally called all four letting them know that a person had caught a $10,000 fish and invited them to a news conference at 12:30 on Monday, April 6. On Sunday, I called all four and again invited all four to attend the news conference. On Monday morning, I again called all four to confirm their attendance at the conference and was told, “We don’t have enough people to cover the story” or “We have breaking news so we cannot come.” I wonder if someone was severely hurt or some bad news was coming out of the derby you would have had the time or resources to cover the story. The Californian told me that they had given the Derby “front page in their Monday paper!” The photo was of three people sitting on a pile of rocks drinking beer! The Californian has one of the finest photographers in the country in Casey Christy and they put a photo like that in their paper to represent the derby. How sad!

In conclusion, we just had one of the largest events in Kern County this year and it was very apparent that you people did not think it was worthy enough to cover. I watched a local news broadcast last night that covered a story of a dog in Boise, Idaho that was stealing the neighbors gloves. Can you tell me that story is more important or more interesting to your readers and listeners that someone in their own community winning $10,000? I think not. Fred Roach

Isabella Lake Fishing Derby Chairman