Outdoors with Don Q: Annual Invitational Fishing Derby at Topaz Lake

Sunday through Tuesday, April 22-24, are the 2012 dates for the highly-popular John Riordan Invitational Fishing Derby. John is the Assistant General Manager for the Carson Station Hotel and Casino in Carson City, and this will be the 15th version of his annual, fun-filled, fishing event at Topaz Lake.
His derby is traditionally co-headquartered at the Topaz Lake Marina and the Topaz Lake Lodge at Topaz Lake, which lies along the Nevada-California state line about 40 miles south of Carson City.
Here is some information about that derby:

Derby Rules:
The fishing derby officially begins at 5 a.m. on Sunday, April 22 and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24.
In between those times and dates, some 80-100 contestants will be able to fish anywhere they want at Topaz Lake and the Topaz Canal.
This year there are two categories: trout and bass (a brand new category).

Derby Prizes:
The prizes for the largest trout are: $300 for first place, $200 for second place, $150 for third place, $125 for fourth place.
The prizes for the largest bass are: $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third place.

Derby Activities:
The Derby traditionally features:
1. An all-you-can-eat deluxe hamburger, polish sausage, Italian sausage and hotdog outdoor barbecue at Chuck and Linda Fields’ Topaz Lake Marina on Sunday evening, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
2. A Tri-Tip Steak and chicken barbecue also at the Marina on Monday evening, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
3. A Prime Rib Dinner and Awards Banquet at the Topaz Lodge on Tuesday evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
At the Tri Tip Dinner, every contestant will win a raffle prize from all kinds of “goodies” including fishing rods, fishing reels, rod and reel combos, coolers, tackle boxes, shirts, hats and all kinds of camping and fishing gear.

Derby History:
The first John Riordan Invitational Derby was held many years ago at Bodega Bay in Northern California.
That derby was the result of an idea by the late Steve Ustal, Riordan’s brother-in-law. That first-time event attracted only four people who fished for Ling Cod and Rock Cod in the Pacific Ocean.
More importantly, on that initial trip the idea of having an annual fishing derby took root and grew.
The following year, a total of 10 contestants returned to Bodega Bay.
The third year, 25 fishermen and fisherwomen (including yours truly on his first-ever trip) traveled to Bodega Bay, where I got lucky and won first place with a Rock Cod.
I became “Hooked” on the Riordan Derby and have been an annual contestant for all but one of the following years.
The fourth year, the majority of the fishermen (including me) got terribly seasick on a wild and woolly day out in the ocean at Bodega Bay.
Later, through the years, the Derby has been headquartered at a number of different locations including Bodega Bay, Bucks Lake in Northern California, the Walker River Resort in Smith Valley, Nevada and then for the last 14 years at Topaz Lake.

Largest fish in the derby:
A perpetual, rotating trophy, which is dedicated to the memory of Ustal, is awarded each year to the lucky (or skillful!) angler who catches the largest fish in those three days of competition.
Unfortunately for me, my regular fishing partners (Norm Budden, Don Hettrick and Bob “Slick”) McCulloch) have all won this trophy and they never fail to remind me (over and over) that I have not yet been a winner.
I sure hope that 2012 is the year to break that jinx.
It would be delightful to finally get them off my back, once and for all!
Here are last year’s winners for the largest trout:
First: Dez Lamotte of Carson City: 2-pounds, 15.5-ounces.
Second: Fred Valdez of Carson City: 2-pounds, 4.75-ounces.
Third: Fred Valdez: 2-pounds, 3-ounces.
Fourth: John Correia: 2-pounds, 2-ounces.
Fifth: Mike Madison: 2-pounds, ¼-ounce.
Sixth: Jim Bolta: 1-pound, 15.5-ounces.
Seventh: Ed Fabrat: 1-pound, 14.5-ounces.
Note: There was no category for bass last year.

Finally:
The 15th annual Topaz Lake Derby should, once again, be a fun-filled occasion where everyone who attends will have a chance to visit with good friends, make new friends, try to win some money with a trophy fish, eat great food, have a “cocktail or two” and have a “Ton of Fun.”
And, I hope to be a winner this year and hopefully in more than just one of the many prize places. Be sure to root for me!

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you where Hettrick, Slick and I will be fishing during the three-day derby.
If he grins and says, “Heck, those three pals will be trolling out on the lake from Slick’s brand new pontoon boat,” he could be one of the many other contestants in the annual John Riordan Invitational Derby.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now and www.SouthTahoeNow.com. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com