 It
was a last minute entry from Mike Tracy of Ahwanee,
California that captured $100 in cash and the
big fish prize in the High County Trout Anglers
4th of July Trout Derby at Mono County’s
Saddlebag Lake.
Mike Tracy of Ahwanee was racing the weigh-in
clock when he decided to troll until he reached
the dock, and his decision let him win the Big
Fish Jackpot at the High Country Trout Anglers
4th of July Truot Derby at Mono County’s
Saddlebag Lake.
As Tracy neared the dock he was hit by a 2-pound
13-ounce rainbow trout to win a $100 cash prize
and a handful of other prizes.
The two-day derby drew a light crowd because a
pattern of rainy weather had been hammering the
high country for nearly a week prior to the event.
Lake operator Richard Ernst said the 4th of July
weekend crowd can often be big, but he felt weather
was a factor that kept a lot of people away. Those
who did show up, however, were surprised at how
mild the weather was during the day and were greeted
with easy limits.
Sunday was warm and clear and derby participants
were out early because of a noon weigh-in deadline.
Prior to the derby, the lake was stocked twice
with DFG trout and once with a load of Alpers
trout, some weighing up to 8 pounds. Ernst said
he was surprised that some of the huge Alpers
were not checked in.
In addition to the big fish prize, there were
blind bogey awards in Men’s, Women’s
and Youth Divisions.
Paul Eagle of Mariposa won the Men’s first
place, while Randy Hazzard of Anaheim claimed
second place, and Chris Jennings of Mariposa won
third place.
In the Women’s Division, Judy Eagle of Mariposa
won first place, followed by second place winner
Janice McGookin of Laverne and third place winner
Dorothy Howard of Denair.
First place youth winner was Chris Van der Veen
from Modesto. Jonathan Tracy of Ahawanee captured
Second Place and third place went to Andrew Kuboyama
of Brea.
A special youth prize was awarded to Justin Wright
of Denair for catching his very first fish, a
3-ounce Brook trout.
Derby prizes were donated by Saddlebag Lake Resort,
Hendrix Tackle, Turner’s Outdoorsman, Boss
Bait & Tackle Oceanside, High Country Trout
Anglers, Murphy’s Motel of Lee Vining, Channel
Union 76 of Lee Vining, and Anglers Edge of Gardnerville
.
Some proceeds of the event were donated to the
Sierra Trout Foundation.
Congratulations to the winners and to the new
members of High Country Trout Anglers who participated
in the derby.
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