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The 2019 Isabella LakeFishing Derby kicks offApril 13-15, 2019, in theKern River Valley.

This event, now in its30th year, started offsmall as a Kern RiverValley Chamber of Com-merce-sponsored eventdesigned to create some-thing new and fun thatcame after the localWhiskey Flat Days cele-bration up in Kernvilleand before the major hol-idays, designed to helpthe local economy andfor everyone who lovesthe outdoors to partici-pate in and enjoy.

From these humblesmall-town beginnings,the Isabella Lake FishingDerby has grown intoone of the largest publicentry freshwater fishingtournaments in the state.

The history of the der-by is varied and inter-esting and has changedalong with the economyand angling regulationsand conditions. From thelake being full duringgreat water years to lowduring drought years,from a few hundred en-trants every year to thou-sands, and from a fewprizes to many ways towin. What started withChamber Sponsorship

has turned into both localvendor and big companysponsorships like Berkleyand Budweiser partici-pating in the festivities.

The tournament hasevolved and matured andabove all has consistent-ly kept one thing in mindfor entrants: Have funand catch lots of fish!

This event is all aboutfun and family and theKern River Valley Cham-ber and all the derbysponsors have pulled outall the stops for the30th year. The Chamber,in partnership with Red’sMarina, the DFW andthe USFS, raises approx-imately 10,000 pounds

of trout from early No-vember to right beforethe tournament. Thesefish are grown in the lakeand are acclimated to wa-ter conditions and fedthree times a day. And asthey get larger, often-times fish must be re-leased early due to thepens becoming over-

crowded. The icing on the cake:

each year the Chamberbrings in 5,000 poundsof Nebraska Tail walk-ers. These are trophytrout known for theirfighting abilities andtable quality and aver-age between five and 18pounds! Plus, DFW

stocks right before theDerby.

Due to the great snow-pack the lake is fillingup to its full capacity of361,000 acre-feet thisyear.

There are 10 differentways to win this year and

Break out the rods! Isabella LakeFishing Derby comes this weekend

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PHOTOS COURTESY KERN RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

over $26,000 in total prizes! Raf-fle items include a brand-new Sun-dolphin Boss 12 SS Fishing Kayak,a Honda Generator and cash. TheBobber Bowl, Lake TroutLotto, kids giveaways, on and on allkinds of ways to win. There arethree different prize slots this year.

Men’s and women’s divisions havetop prizes of $1,000 and $500 andchildren’s is $500 and $400. As anadded bonus, winners who pur-chase Fishing Derby T-shirts andhoodies get their winnings doubledfor the first slots in each division.

How do you win? Simple: catchthe longest trout!

HARDWARE • PLUMBING • ELECTRICAL

We’re

celebrating our

55th year in business.

Serving you since

1964

877-459-6237 (toll free) • 760-379-46314700 Lake Isabella Blvd., Lake Isabella • www.lmlumber.com

Come visitour drive-thruwarehouse! Mon-Fri 7-6Sat & Sun 8-5

THIS SPACEAVAILABLECall 760-375-4481To Join In The Fun!

The Best And Closest RaftingFor All Of Southern California

Short Trips • Day Trips • 2 Day Trips

Call 760-376-3370To Book

kernrafting.com

Kern County Small Businesswoman of the Year 201011030 Kernville Rd., Kernville, CA 93238

1-760-376-6131

Just for you, Super Food & Friendly, too!Serving Kernville for Over 20 years!

Friday, April 12, 2019 www.ridgecrestca.com B1

NEWLY REMODELED& READY TO SERVE YOU

6303 Lake Isabella(at the 4-way Stop)

760-379-8770

ServingBreakfastLunch &Dinner

Open Daily6AM-8PM

• Hunting, Fishing Licenses• Boat Permits

Chester’s ChickenInside Crossroads Mini Market

CROSSROADSMINI MARTCROSSROADSMINI MART

155 & Lake Isabella Blvd • Lake IsabellaCall 760-379-8170 for info!

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