Tulare's fishing derby draws 300 entrants, onlookers to Del Lago Park
It was a cold, gray, misty morning with temperatures in the 40s — not ideal weather to be out and about Except, of course, if you're an avid fishing enthusiast — such as the 143 youngsters 15 and younger who signed up for Saturday's children's fishing derby at Del Lago Park in north Tulare.
Trout were biting, the entrants and about 200 other family members and onlookers reported.
"Temperature's right. But if it were sunny, we'd have even more action out there," said Visalia-based fisherman John Cook, the weigh-in official at the event, sponsored by the city of Tulare.
Early on, it was evident that a large number of "limits" — in this case, five trout per angler as allowed by the California Department of Fish and Game — would be submitted. Cook was busy weighing each child's limit, and most averaged between 2 and 3 pounds.
Big limits
Martha Anaya, 11, a student at the Sundale K-8 self-contained school and district east of Tulare and south of Visalia, submitted her family's five trout, two that she caught, two more that her brother, Joe Anaya, 9, also caught, and another by little sister Analisa, 5.
"I got a fish!" Analisa said. "I was hoping for a whale."
"That one might have been too big," cautioned Martha.
Mom Veronica Anaya, 30, said this was the first time her family has entered the Del Lago Park fishing derby.
"This is such a great family event," said Veronica, whose husband, also named Joe Anaya, 36, is an avid fisherman and who helped all three kids with their gear.
Parents and other adults are not permitted to fish in the derby, mainly because that requires a license from the state Department of Fish and Game.
Still, the department did donate the hundreds of young trout planted in the pond, keeping young anglers busy from 9-11 a.m., said Lana DaSilva of the city of Tulare, who helped keep track of the weights of each "limit."
The $3 cost per entry covers derby costs, with any leftover cash plowed back into the event.
Trophies were distributed for 1-2-3 finishes in two categories: anglers 2-7 years old, and those 8-15 years in age. There was also a "sweepstakes" trophy for the heaviest catch overall, DaSilva said.
But that wasn't all.
Eyan Arant, 5, who attends school in Tipton, won a new fishing pole for being the first to turn in a five-fish limit, said his dad, Eddie Arant, 29, of Tulare.
"We got here about 8:45 a.m.," Eddie said. "He [Eyan] cast his line in seven times — and out came five fish!"
Eyan was modest about his accomplishment.
"My dad calls me a 'fishin' fool,' " Eyan said. "I like that."Read More ...
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