A group out Rideout Elementary School students from Tahoe City, Ca., help fish hatchery officials release some of the 5,000 rainbow trout being stocked at Lampe Park on Friday morning in preparation for this weekends' 14th annual Kids Fishing Derby.
More than 2,400 children will get a chance to catch a fish this weekend thanks to the annual Carson Valley Kids' Fishing Derby.
Tickets are gone for the popular two-day event at Gardnerville's Lampe Park, but derby official Pamela Rodrigues said there is still a possibility anglers ages 3-12 will get to wet a line.
"Tickets are pretty well gone," she said. "But if you show up at the derby, we will put you on a will-call list."
Rodrigues said sometimes people who obtain the free tickets find they have a conflict and will drop them off.
"In the five years I've been involved, I've never seen a kid turned away," she said.
There will be plenty of fish for children to catch this weekend. Fishing starts at 8 a.m. both days.
About 5,000 fish were dumped in the Lampe Park ponds and creek Friday morning by the Lahontan Fish Hatchery and the Nevada Division of Wildlife.
Another 1,000 will be stocked on Sunday morning to fill out the second half of the two-day derby.
Rodrigues said she watched the stocking Friday morning and believes there are some good-size fish among the load.
"I think they are 1 to 3 pounds," she said. "I saw those babies coming out of the chute today, and they were pretty big."
It takes 230 volunteers more than two days to make the fishing derby a reality, Rodrigues said.
Volunteers receive a hat, a fishing derby pin and a free meal if they work both days.
The derby, which does not charge children to participate, raised $5,900 in cash to fund the event.
A raffle and food sales also help fund the event. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each. For the first time, a biscuits and gravy breakfast will be available.
"We've got a great fishing derby board," Rodrigues said. "They've really worked hard putting this together, and we're ready to pull it off."
Among the sponsors of this year's fishing derby are Raley's, Harrah's Wild Rose Inn, Ace Hardware, Scolari's, Sharkey's Aladdin Flower Shop and Model Dairy.
IF YOU GO
What: Carson Valley Kids' Fishing Derby
When: 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Lampe Park, Gardnerville
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