BLAKE JONES TROUT DERBY SET FOR MARCH 21, 2026, IN BISHOP, CA

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The 2026 Blake Jones Trout Derby is set for Saturday, March 21st in Bishop. Since 1968, the event has been a favorite Eastern Sierra tradition.

 

Event organizers are busy gathering prizes, arranging for supplemental fish planting, and finalizing details to ensure this year’s derby is a huge success. Online registration is now open, and the Chamber expects hundreds of participants to compete for approximately $10,000 in prizes, including float tubes, coolers, barbecues, rod-and-reel combos, and plenty of other great gear provided by the event’s ever-generous co-sponsors.

 

The derby continues to draw both visitors and locals. The Bishop Chamber of Commerce strives to ensure the event remains sustainable so future generations can continue to enjoy the fun of fishing. Organizers have introduced a Catch & Release category and a special raffle prize for participants who collect trash while they’re out on the water. They also stock significantly more fish than are typically caught during the derby to help maintain a healthy fish population.

 

The Blake Jones Trout Derby follows a blind bogey format, with categories for adults and kids of all ages. In addition to blind bogey awards, there will be prizes for early bird registrations, biggest fish, and even special prizes for those who choose to catch & release.

 

Registration, weigh-in, and the awards ceremony will take place at the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fair & Event Center in downtown Bishop. Fishing locations include Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife plants rainbow trout year-round in these waters, and the Chamber will arrange supplemental stocking prior to the derby with fish purchased from Wright’s Rainbows.

 

“The derby is a real family-friendly fishing event. In addition to the fishing contest, we’ll have information booths, educational displays, music, and activities,” explains Chamber Event Coordinator April Kress.

 

And, there’s no need to pack a lunch — the Bishop Lions Club booth will be open at the fairgrounds serving their popular hot dogs and hamburgers.

 

Registration is now open at www.bishopvisitor.com.

The event is supported by Inyo County Community Project Sponsorship Program, and the Bishop Chamber is grateful for its many additional co-sponsors.

For more information, contact the Bishop Chamber at (760) 873-8405.

 

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