CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – More than 1,000 people came from around California and across the United States to participate in this weekend's annual Catfish Derby.
The Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association hosted the derby from Friday through Sunday.
The event is billed as the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi.
“We had a total of 871 adults and 164 kid entries, another record turnout,” said Dennis Locke, a member of the business association and an event organizer.
Locke said 65 percent of the contestants were from outside Lake County, with visitors from all over California, Georgia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
Those entrants were seeking to win part of the $10,000 in cash and prizes the association offered to top finishers this year.
Jerry Allen of Elk Grove won the adult division with a fish weighing 24.65 pounds, caught Saturday morning, Locke said. Allen's first place prize was a check for $4,000.
This year, the derby's children's entries were divided into two divisions, one for ages up to 10 years and one for ages 11 to 15, Locke said.
Michael Monteiro of Hidden Valley Lake won the division for children up to age 10 with a fish weighing 19.19 pounds, caught Sunday morning. Locke said Michael's brother Kody had been leading the division before that with a 19.09-pound fish.
Parker Kenner of Lakeport won the 11 to 15 year old division with a fish weighing 22.46 pounds, Locke said. Parker caught his winning fish on Sunday morning.
Each of the winners in the two children's divisions received $100, organizers reported.
Fishing conditions were generally pretty good during the weekend, but windy conditions from late Friday through Saturday kept many anglers off the water or sheltered for part of the derby, according to Locke.
“The fish count was down slightly this year,” Locke added.
Event organizers reported that there were 363 entries from Lake County, and 672 entries from outside of the county.
Of the 178 fish caught over the three-day tournament, all but 39 were released, according to organizers.
To make the event successful once more, more than 60 volunteers led by derby Chair Gail Jonas worked close to 700 hours during the tournament, Locke said.
The catfish derby is the major fundraiser for the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, with all proceeds given back to the community in the form of donations, scholarships, grants and funding for the July 4th Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks display.
For more information about the organization visit http://www.clearlakeoaks.org .
Full results are published below.
Adult division
1. Jerry Allen, Elk Grove, 24.65 pounds.
2. Dave Ross, Clearlake, 24.02 pounds.
3. Gene Retzloff, Lucerne, 23.02 pounds.
4. Kelly Bigelow, Clearlake, 23.01 pounds.
5. Michael Keesee, Kelseyville, 22.85 pounds.
6. James Brooks Jr., Olivehurst, 22.66 pounds.
7. Robert Curtis, Marysville, 22.37 pounds.
8. Ryan Seaman, Visalia, 22.06 pounds.
9. Gerald Medeiros Jr., Yuba City, 22.02 pounds.
10. Gabriel DeBaca, Santa Rosa, 22.0 pounds.
11. Jared Lane, Hood River, Ore., 21.89 pounds.
12. Michael Higman, Lincoln, 21.57 pounds.
13. Dustin Cravy, Auburn, 21.28 pounds.
14. Joquin Rodriguez, San Pablo, 21.01 pounds.
15. Ashley Bixler, Lakeport, 20.70 pounds.
16. Richard Pokorny, Lakeport, 20.68 pounds.
17. Michael Reed, Taylorsville, 20.63 pounds.
18. Yee Vang, Stockton, 20.63 pounds.
19. Tom Wyatt, Pleasanton, 20.55 pounds.
20. Randal Dickinson, Nice, 20.54 pounds.
Children – Up to 10 years of age
1. Michael Monteiro, Hidden Valley Lake, 19.19 pounds.
2. Kody Monteiro, Hidden Valley Lake, 19.09 pounds.
3. Matthew Barney, Clearlake, 18.50 pounds.
4. Brice Cannady, Clearlake Oaks, 18.34 pounds.
5. Bradley Hansen, Hidden Valley Lake, 18.30 pounds.
Children – 11 to 15 years of age
1. Parker Kenner, Lakeport, 22.46 pounds.
2. Adrian John, Clearlake Oaks, 20.86 pounds.
3. Mia Provance, Sacramento, 17.08 pounds.
4. Jason Gentle, Kelseyville, 16.63 pounds.
5. Pierce Linville, Winters, 15.0 pounds.