Fourteenth annual Invitational Fishing Derby at Topaz Lake

By Don Quilici
Mark your calendars for April 24-26 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 14th 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.

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Here is some information about that derby:
Derby Rules:
The fishing derby officially begins at 5 a.m. on Sunday, April 24 and ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.
In between those times and dates, the contestants will be able to fish anywhere they want at Topaz Lake and the Topaz Canal.
Derby Prizes:
In those three days, about 80 contestants will be vying for cash prizes.
The prizes for the largest trout are: $300 for first place, $200 for second place, $150 for third place, $125 for fourth place, $100 for fifth place, $75 for sixth and $50 for seventh place.
Derby Activities:
The Derby traditionally features an all-you-can-eat hamburger, polish sausage and Italian sausage outdoor barbecue at Chuck and Linda Fields’ Topaz Lake Marina on Sunday evening, a Tri-Tip Steak and chicken barbecue also at the Marina on Monday evening and then the Prime Rib Dinner and Awards Banquet at the Topaz Lodge on Tuesday evening.
At that Tri Tip Dinner, every derby contestant will win a raffle prize from all kinds of “goodies” including fishing rods, fishing reels, tackle boxes, fishing gear, camping gear, coolers, propane stoves, shirts, hats, etc.
Derby History:
The first John Riordan Invitational Derby was held many, 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. Most 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 was “Hooked” on the Riordan Derby and have been an annual contestant for almost all of those 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 13 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 2011 is the year to break that jinx.
It would be delightful to finally get them off my back, once and for all!
Best of all, two of the three are not entered in the derby this year.
Hettrick is home recovering from a knee replacement and Budden is busy working at the Nevada State Legislature until mid-June.
Yahoo! I might have a chance to add my name to that trophy!
Finally:
The 14th 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 seven prize places. Be sure to root for me!
Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you where Slick and I will be fishing during the three-day derby.
If he grins and says, “Heck, those two will be fishing somewhere from shore at the lake with either lures or bait,” he could be one of the other contestants in the annual John Riordan Invitational Derby.