Camping areas open for Fishing Derby

Geri Adams
Special to the Sun

For the 2010 Isabella Lake Fishing Derby there is plenty of room for campers and anglers looking for overnight accommodations, according to Forest Service officials.

Pioneer Point, Tillie Creek, Paradise Cove, Hungry Gulch and Boulder Gulch campgrounds are on first-come, first-served bases at $20 per night. Camp 9 also has plenty of sites available at $17 per night.

In addition, overnight camping is allowed at Auxiliary Dam, Old Isabella Road and the South Fork Recreation Area, with a daily fee of $10 or you can purchase an annual pass for $50.

Stine Cove and Hanning Flat are also available free of charge.  As a reminder, camping is limited to 14 days out of a 30 day period.

According to Forest officials, visitors can set up their recreation vehicles in developed campsites prior to the weekend event. However, visitors must occupy the site and not just park a vehicle and trailers cannot be unoccupied for more than 24 hours.

For the Fishing Derby weekend only, the Forest Service has agreed to open up additional areas for overnight camping. These areas include Engineer Point; along  the beach area west of Paradise Cove campground, Kissack Cove; the north and south shoreline of Boulder Gulch and the shoreline between French Gulch Group Area and Boulder Gulch. For these areas, visitors can begin to set up campsites on Thursday, March 25 at 6:00 a.m.  If visitors set up their campsites earlier they may be cited.  The special camping areas will remain open until Monday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m.