2018 Catfish Derby planning kicks off under new leadership
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Mark your calendars for the 35th annual Catfish Derby in Clearlake Oaks on May 18, 19 and 20.
Hailed as the biggest Catfish Derby west of the Mississippi, the event brings in people from all over the United States and a few from outside the country.
A record-breaking crowd is anticipated and planning for the one-of-a-kind Lake County event is under way – this year under new leadership.
Longtime event chair, Gail Jonas, has decided to retire from the honor.
“It’s time for me to hand over the reins of this gig to my friend, Dennis Locke,” Jonas said. “He’s been on the planning team for over 10 years, working hard to make sure the database of catfish anglers is maintained and attending to more details than anyone can possibly know.”
She added, “I’ve watched us grow, each year attracting more entries than the last until we’ve almost exceeded carrying capacity at our current location. That’s a good problem to have but I’ll leave it to others to figure out.”
Arguably the best attended event of its kind in North America, the Catfish Derby attracts more than 1,000 anglers, their families and friends as well as hundreds more spectators who enjoy the family-oriented sport.
“It’s a lot of fun to see the excitement on happy faces, young and old, when they weigh in their prized catch,” Jonas said. “When the 11-year-old young man from Sutter won the top prize last year with his 28.81-pound catfish, he grinned ear to ear for the longest time. It just doesn’t get much better than that.”
Managing the Catfish Derby has been a family affair for Gail Jonas and her husband, Jim Jonas, a respected longtime Clearlake Oaks couple.
“We’re not saying goodbye, that’s for sure,” said Jim Jonas. “The Catfish Derby has been a labor of love, a big part of our lives. You don’t just walk away from it, and we’ll be around to help out. We’ve just decided it’s time to ride in the back seat and let the younger generation move up to the front. In fact, you’ll likely find me at the weigh in station next year, helping out as the fish come in.”
Dennis Locke, the new Catfish Derby chair, said he’s confident the event will go off without a hitch.
Like the Jonases, Dennis and his wife, Helen, team up to support the event.
“We’ve got a fantastic committee including my wife. We’ve met twice already,” he said. “Some of the details take quite a bit of advance effort, especially the signup process. Most of the anglers sign up months ahead of the derby, something we like to encourage. We’ve gotten more and more sophisticated in our processes and these days, the preferred method to register is online and by mail.”
Locke said that after 34 years, the popular annual event has a momentum that carries the group through the myriad of details.
“It takes more than 50 volunteers to run the derby. We’ve got our regulars but each year we welcome new volunteers. They must have a good time because most come back the following year. It’s a broad-based community effort, three days of gathering with friends from around the lake for a good purpose,” he said.
“One of the most gratifying aspects of the Derby is the economic boost it gives us,” he explained. “Of course, we see it in our little town of about 2,400 people but it’s a boon to the entire county. The hotels, resorts and campgrounds fill up, sales at our bait and tackle shops increase and the restaurants and casinos also get a boost along with our wine tasting and other venues.”
“Because the derby is a multi-day family affair, I know the wives like to go off and explore the sites and do some shopping,” Gail Jonas added. “I’ve lived in Lake County almost all my life and as someone who’s seen the ups and downs of our tourist based economy, I can tell you we need this derby and more events like it to bring folks in. They used to flock to Lake County – on a regular basis. I’d like to see that type of enthusiasm for our piece of paradise return.”
The event averages 1,000 or more entries each year. The first place winner earns a $4,000 cash prize; second place wins $1,000 and third wins $800. A total of 20 will place in the adult category with prizes scaling down to $40.
There are also two categories for children, up to 10 years and 11 to 15 years of age. The child prizes start at $100 and scale down to $10.
Locke explained that several years ago the planning team decided to open up the adult category to kids, provided they paid the adult entry fee.
“Wouldn’t you know it, last year, an 11-year-old won the top prize,” Locke said. “It’s a great family activity and we love to see the younger generation get hooked on fishing.“
As in past years, in addition to the $10,000 in cash prizes for the derby winners, there will be another $2,500 in cash and merchandise given away through daily drawings.
Entry fees will stay the same in 2018, $40 for pre-sale entries; $50 after deadline and kids pay $10 and receive a free derby t-shirt.
The traditional derby t-shirts and hats will also be available for sale.
The Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, or CLOGBA, has been the major sponsor of the derby since its inception in 1983.
Through CLOGBA, proceeds from the derby support many local worthy causes.
More information on the Catfish Derby is available at www.clearlakeoaks.org/derby.
Businesses that want to get in the annual program can sponsor the event by contacting Dennis Locke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..