Marsha Smith
Kern Valley Sun

Several months each year these folks devote countless hours to feding the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby fish as they grow in the tanks at French Gulch Marina. The fish weigh approximately four to five ounces when they are delivered. By the time these fine folks complete their fish-feeding duties at Derby time, the fish weigh in at one-and one-quarter to two pounds.

Without the efforts of these folks who get up before the chickens to make sure the hungry fish are fed and in good health, the Derby Committee would be hard pressed. Every year the Derby Committee holds a BBQ to say thank you to these men and women of the Fish and Game Habitat Club for all the hard work they do. This year it was held at the Joughin Ranch, courtesy of Roberta Joughin. Committee Chairman Fred Roach thanked each and every member of the Habitat Club for the relentless and devoted work. “We are already looking at a bigger and better derby for 2010,” said Roach. Pictured above are all the members of the Fish and Game Habitat Club who attended the BBQ. Others who participate in the feeding and care of the fish were unfortunately unable to attend.

Every year the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby Committee hosts a BBQ to thank the Fish and Game Habitiat Club for their dedication to feeding the derby fish as they grow in pens at French Gulch Marina prior to the annual Fishing Derby. Front row seated left to right, Carolyn Bagby, Lynne Sandlin, Sheri Van Matre and Elaine Johnson; second row seated left to right, Ed Van Matre, Ray Gutierrez, John Hill and Bob Recker; standing left to right, Tom McKinney, Dudley Bagby, Mark Chambers, Carl Gorham, Tim Cox, Ed Cordell, John Kitchen, Gary Albright, Les Johnson and Fred Roach.