FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 47^th Annual Blake Jones Trout Derby is just around the corner – slated for Saturday, March 15^th at Pleasant Valley Reservoir just north of Bishop.  Since the event lands the weekend before Saint Patrick’s Day this year, event organizers are sure that they’ll have good luck putting on the biggest and best derby yet.

The Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau hosts the Blake Jones Derby and they are hopeful that even more people will join in the fun this year.  According to April Leeson of the Bishop Chamber “It really is a good old-fashioned fun day for families that love to fish, plus we give away some amazing prizes!”

Prior to the derby, Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Lower Owens River are always well stocked with Alpers and DFG trout.  The contest is a “blind bogey” competition, so everyone has equal chance to win.  Each registered participant may enter up to five fish and if any of the fish weights match the blind bogey weight, they’ll be entered into a raffle to win great prizes.  There are categories for adults and kids and additional prizes are awarded for big fish, early bird entries and farthest travel to the derby.

Thanks to many generous co-sponsors including the County of Inyo, City of Bishop, Paiute Palace Casino, LADWP, SCE, North Fork Outdoors, Suddenlink, plus many local businesses & national manufacturers, winners will take home more than $10,000 worth of fishing gear, float tubes, tackle, gift certificates and cash!

Early-Bird registration is offered at a discount ($10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12) for entries postmarked by February 28^th.  Day of derby registration will be $15 for adults and $7.

For the fourth consecutive year, and thanks to the generous co-sponsorship of Erick Schat’s Bakkery, the chamber has added a separate raffle offering a brand new Dave Scadden Outlaw Renegade Pontoon Boat Package valued at $1,000!  Raffle tickets are just $5 each or 5 for $20.  The winning raffle ticket will be chosen at the Blake Jones Derby, but winner need not be present.

Tickets for the Pontoon Boat Package and Blake Jones Derby entry forms are available now at the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce, Culver’s Sporting Goods, Mac’s, Brock’s, Value Sports and Reagan’s Sporting Goods.

For more information, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.bishopvisitor.com” www.bishopvisitor.com, drop by the Bishop Chamber of Commerce, 690 North Main Street or call April at (760)873-8405.