One of Lassen County’s most cherished spring traditions is back! The Lassen Sportsmen’s Club has announced that the 37th Annual Junior Fishing Derby will take place on Saturday, May 16th. For three decades, this event has brought the community together for a day of outdoor fun, sportsmanship and the thrill of the “big catch.”
A Full Day of Fun and Food
The day kicks off early with registration and check-in starting at 5:00a.m. at Memorial Park. For families who may not have their own gear, the club has you covered: fishing rods will be available for check-out to ensure every child has a chance to participate.
Additionally, the first 300 kids to register will receive a souvenir Derby Hat, courtesy of Guess Plumbing!
Thanks to the incredible generosity of local sponsors, young fishers won’t go hungry:
From 6:00 to 8:30a.m. there will be a free breakfast for all kids, sponsored by WalMart and its employees.
A free lunch for all kids will be served from 10:30a.m. to 1:00p.m., sponsored by Frosty Mill, Susanville Supermarket, Alpine Beverage, Burger King, Diamond Mountain Mini-Mart, and Grillin’ by Greg Sella.
Adults may have breakfast or lunch for a suggested donation of $2.
Competition and Prizes
The Derby officially concludes at 3:00p.m., followed immediately by the prize ceremony at Memorial Park. To be eligible for prizes, participants must be off the river by 2:45 and in line at the check-in station by 3:00.
The prize list is more impressive than ever this year:
Bicycles: Awarded to 1st place winners in both the 2–5 and 6–15 age categories (Donated by Zaengle’s Home & Carpet and Susanville Grocery Outlet).
Rod & Reels: Awarded for 2nd place in both categories (Donated by Western Nevada Supply).
Tackle Boxes: Awarded for 3rd place in both categories (Donated by Lassen County Federal Credit Union).
The “Big One”: A custom Rod and Reel will be awarded for the biggest fish, donated by Elegant Iris and Men’s Den.
Special 15-Year-Old Prize: A fly rod, reel and line for the largest fish caught by a 15-year-old. (Courtesy of Katie Anderson).
Sportsmanship Awards: Special recognition for young anglers demonstrating great character sponsored by the Dieter Family and Bill Kauffman.
Community Spirit
This event is a true community effort, co-sponsored by the City of Susanville, the Susanville Indian Rancheria and Lassen County. Countless local businesses have stepped up to provide funding and support for fish planting.
The Lassen Sportsmen’s Club is a 501(c)(3) community non-profit organization, and all donations to the event are tax-deductible.
For more information, community members can contact Lassen Sportsmen’s Club President Wade Workman at 1.530.310.0151.
