Annual Bass Derby

 Photos Below

The Bass Derby is a benefit team tournament sponsored, conducted and supported by the Clearlake Bassmasters. 100% of the proceeds go to benefit youth, recreational and environmental projects and groups on beautiful Clear Lake. The Clearlake Bassmasters do not make any money from this event.

The 2008 Bass Derby will be held Saturday, October, 2008. The entry fee is $100 with a $20 Big Fish Option. Payback is 80% to 20% of the field. The top teams are recognized with plaques.

To raise these benefit funds, the club keeps 20% of the entry fees and sells cash raffle tickets for $1.00 that can win $100 (3rd place) $200 (2nd place) $300 (1st place) and winners need not be present to win. The main vehicle for fund raising is the merchant raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each ticket or 6 tickets for $5.00.

The club relies on businesses locally and nationally. We greatly appreciate the continuing support we have received from the local tackle stores. In particular, Tackle-it in Lakeport and Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks have given ongoing support through the years. Donations of fishing, boating and automotive goods and services, any general merchandise, personal services or gift certificates for meals and lodging are always welcomed and a big help in our fund raising.

The Bass Derby has raised over $70,000 since its inception in 1986. Funds from the Bass Derby are allotted each year to high school students for college scholarships or environmental projects benefiting Clear Lake or maintenance and operation of the clubs live release boat.

Past allocations have gone to: planting of Bass and Crappie fingerlings, replacement of dock floats at Lucerne Harbor, funding for Adopt-a-Lake with California Department of Fish and Game where the club planted tulles, placed spawning gravel and distributed 10,000, Kids Fishing and The Environment booklets, reconstruction of the Club's Release Boat, Installation of a second set of floats at Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville. Donations for playground equipment in Clearlake, Donated to the establishment of the Rodman Slough Preserve and County Park in Upper Lake, Boy Scout, K Corps, Big Brothers and Sisters and the Sea Scouts.

Please join us in supporting the annual benefit team tournament by participating in the tournament or donating to our raffle. We believe this event to be the only benefit for Clear Lake

2007 Winners and article below.
 

Winners no particular order - 1st Place: Brian Whitney, Bob Hagg - 19.54 lbs, 2nd Place: Doug Mcka, Bob Simard - 18.86 lbs. 3rd Place: Michelle & Paul Borghesani - 17.43 lbs 4th Place: Randy Hodson, Vern Hartman - 15.74 lbs, 5th Place, Billy Hines, Chance Hall - 15.71 lbs, 6th Place: Bill Dabbs, Phil Copas - 15.67lbs. Big Fish top three were: Jose Juarez, Ramon Fonseca - 7.11 lbs, Brian Whitney, Bob Haag - 6.79 lbs, Billy Hines, Chance Hall - 6.12 lbs

Sorry for any butchering of these names but its the best I could do off the entry forms (wink)
 

It was a great time with a lot of camaraderie. One of the winners of the Triton team tournament "BassKat" was there. Everything ran very smoothly and there were ZERO dead fish.

As "organizer" my job was made very simple, George Bates from Tackle It, and John Graham did a lot of my duties. Sam Karnatz from Arbor House Inn helped considerably. George Hill ran down Raffle prizes. Ron Snead and Ray Curry watched over the raffle prizes during the day. Kenny Ostergaard Clued me in as to how to register people and kick it off. Kenny and Phil Copas ran a great weigh-in with the help of Kenny's gorgeous girlfriend Jennifer Anderson who also took these photos.Thank you to my wife Barbara for doing the signage and helping me out in the morning It was a lot of fun guys - Thanks for taking over and helping me out

Greg Cornish

Thanks to the people who donated to the raffles.

Bob Higgins at Limit Out Tackle
Ed at Tackle It
Team St. Croix
Tru-Turn Hooks
DJ's Pizza
Kelseyville Lumber
Steel Winery
Widhurst Vineyards
John Graham
George Hill