CLUB MEMBER WINS 2ND PLACE IN TOURNAMENT
By Darold Givens

I have to start out that I had planned on joining the annual Stampede Lake Kokanee Power fishing derby all
season.  I just did not know who wanted to join me. My son Rick lives close by Stampede Lake in Reno and
wanted to use his new North River boat. I also wanted to use my boat and we both had room for others. Joe O’
Brien had said he wanted to join me so I was expecting him to come up early to have a few practice days.

I had spent the week earlier at the lake with my grandson, Ryan to camp and catch a few fish. We were able to
put a few kokanee on board and started to learn where the fish were hanging out. I had a great time with him
but had to return him home for Football Practice and his other chores.

I returned the next week, three days before the tournament to again practice. I met Rick on Thursday and we
trolled the lake with my boat and took a few fish. Most kokanee fishermen do not tell all. Rick is no different. He
was putting stuff on his line and downrigger and I was doing the same to mine. I did pick up a few tricks just
by observing him. I had a few of my own too. We finished the day and he took the fish home as he has a great
smoking recipe for kokanee.

I fished the next day with some camping neighbors, Karran and Wayne from Reno as Joe could not make it up
until Friday night. I must have impressed my neighbors as they had never caught kokanee before, let alone
limited out. They each had caught five fish.
I also had learned something that day, fish near the dam. That is where we stayed all morning.

Tournament Saturday was here. The fishing starts at 0530 hrs and the weigh in ends at 1400 (2PM). Rick was
already on the water as he came in Thursday night and slept on his boat. Joe arrived last night and stayed in
my camper. We were on the water and heading for the dam. My idea was that most fishermen would be
fishing around the island as that is where the majority were practicing the previous day and I was right. There
were not many boats at the dam.
I had put in some lures tipped with special corn while Joe was steering the boat. It was not long before we
had our first bite. I told Joe to take the rod and that we would alternate every other bites. He was able to bring
the fish along side the boat so I could net it and bring it aboard. I could not believe my eyes. This was the
biggest fish I had seen in the last two weeks. Joe is used to catching kokanee but was not aware of what size
fish were available. I did not measure it but quickly put it away and started fishing again.

I wanted to let Rick know of our great success but he was fishing alone and I knew he would be busy. He has
a remote control, automatic steering guided by a GPS system on his boat. It is still a handful when alone. He
had entered the elite Pro Division portion of the Derby and we entered the Sportsman Division. The pro is
more competitive but wins more money. The sportsman has many returning members who fish the eight
different derbies each year. This was Joe’s first derby. I finally got Rick on the radio and he had a few good fish
but did not have one as big as Joe’s.

We fished until noon, had eight fish on board. We can only use one fish each to enter the contest but Rick
needed his two biggest fish to enter the Pro division. The wind had come up and the water looked like the
ocean. Boaters were making their way to the ramp in a race to get off the water and make the deadline. There
were complications at the ramp as skiers were beginning to try and get their boats on the lake. It was 1:30
when we were on our trailers and the weigh in was still at a campsite on the other side of the lake. When we
arrived, we found out we were the last ones able to check in and if anyone else arrived, it would be too late.

Rick was first to weigh in and his two fish put him in seventh place, the lowest spot to win money. Joe was
next and his fish came in second place. They go by length and his was just a shy shorter than the winner but
his fish was heavier than the first place fish. Weight is used only in a tie for length. I had a chance at a pot luck
pool which is the closest to the fish between the biggest and the smallest. I wasn’t even close. I do have the
distinction of being the Captain of the boat supporting the second place winner. Rick won $50 and Joe won
$200. The final results can be found on the Kokanee Power web site.
Joe O'brien Wins 2nd Place in Kokanee Tournament
Joe O'briens wining Kokanee
Foster City Rod and Gun Club