With slow fishing means time to gear up for kids derby

Hello Fellow anglers:

Fishing over the last couple weeks has been fair to non-productive due to our weather. Spring is near and fishing will pick up with better conditions. This is not a full report but an informational report.

Even though it still is a few months away, let me gear you up for the kids fishing derby. This week I will tell you of the Lampe Park Free Kids Fishing Derby in Gardnerville. The next article will be on the Sawmill Pond Kids Free Fishing Derby in South Lake Tahoe.

June 6-7 will be the 20-year anniversary for the Douglas County Kids' Fishing Derby. This is a free event for children 3-12 held annually at Lampe Park in Gardnerville the first weekend in June. All participants must pre-register. Registration forms will be available at the Douglas County Parks Department at 1327 Waterloo Road in Gardnerville from April 1-May 22.

The Douglas County Chamber of Commerce will have registration forms available from May 25-30. There will be seven sessions available, including a special needs session to be held June 6. Don't forget to buy your pre-derby raffle tickets for the drawing that will take place on both days of the derby. The grand prizes this year include a 150cc quad with a helmet and gloves (valued at $1,400), a pontoon boat (valued at $500) and many other misc items.

Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and may either be purchased at Douglas County Parks Deptartment, or by contacting Pamela Rodrigues at 265-1795.

Volunteers are needed for the event to make it fun and safe for all. If you are interested in volunteering, (more than 300 are needed) contact Trent Dowell at kfdvolunteers@aol.com, or by telephone at 267-2724.

If you are planning on volunteering as river help, and you are between the ages of 13-15, you must attend at least one mandatory river help training class. There will be no exceptions. This class also is provided to any adult river help volunteer who would like to learn how to help a youngster experience a day of fishing.

The dates for the training classes are as follows: May 23 at 9 a.m., May 30 at 10 a.m. and June 3 at 7 p.m.

The mandatory volunteer meetings (these are not to be confused with the river help training classes) are May 30 at 9 a.m. and June 3 at 6 p.m. If you are unable to attend at least one of the mandatory volunteer meetings, you must contact Trent Dowell at the phone number or email address listed above. All training classes and volunteer meetings will be held at Lampe Park in the Pavillion located in Gardenerville. Volunteer signup forms will be available at the end of the month.

I hope to see you all there. What a great event for the young and not so young. The rewards are ever lasting, if you are a volunteer a participant.

Good fishin' and tight lines.

If you are interested in sponsoring the derby either by a tax deductible monetary or merchandise donation, please contact either Brian Wood at randall1.wood@ge.com, or by telephone at 901-2066, or Chris Smithen at reno7330@yahoo.com, or by telephone at 450-3373.