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The father-daughter team of Khanh and Connie Tran took first place in the Third Annual CIFFI Team Kokanee Tournament at New Melones Reservoir on July 14, winning $3,000 for weighing in five fish measuring a total of 194.70 cm.
They bested a field of 193 anglers who competed for $10,000 in cash prizes, along with fishing rods and other prizes. Most anglers reported hot action during the derby, with limits of fat kokanee the rule, while enjoying mild summer weather.
Khanh is a single dad from Fremont who takes 7-year-old Connie fishing on New Melones, McClure, Pardee, Berryessa and other foothill lakes. He has been fishing for kokanee and landlocked king salmon for 10 years - and entered his first derby last year.
"We caught our fish while bouncing the bottom over two 60 foot humps in 70 feet of water on the lake's south end past the little Island," he stated. "The fish hit red/pink hoochies and Radical Glow Tubes, tipped with garlic corn."
Although he likes to fish freshwater lakes, his biggest passion is ocean angling. "If we didn't have to fish the derby, I would have run down off Monterey for albacore tuna," said Khanh.
Close behind the Trans were Jim Franco, owner of J&D Auto Gone Fishin' in Monterey, and his son, James. They bagged five fish measuring a total of 193.90 cm, winning $1500.
Big fish honors went to Bill Dunn and Dennis Springer, who took a kokanee measuring 45.9 cm. They won $1250 for their catch.
Guide Bruce Hamby, who I experienced excellent kokanee action with at Lake McClure the day before, and Dave Graham, reported hot kokanee action on New Melones. They took ninth place in the even with five fish going 188.30 cm. "We caught easy limits of kokanee while using Uncle Larry's spinners in Bloody Mary patterns with Vance's Dodgers," said Hamby.
"The team tournament format has proven to make a very competitive derby, with few repeaters showing up in the winners column," commented Gary Erck, CIFFI Secretary. "This derby continues to set the standard for payouts for kokanee anglers in California. Payouts for the top five spots exceeded $7,000 and big fish payouts topped $2,500."
San Joaquin Drywall, PG&E and Johnson Outdoors sponsored the event, while San Joaquin Drywall provided major underwriting for the derby. The derby meal was catered by Silver Sage Catering and featured Prime rib, chili, corn on the cob and salad.
The fish were measured for length at this year's derby, keeping the weigh masters from Placerville Marine busy tallying almost 400 fish for the day.
The winners of the 2007 CIFFI New Melones Team Kokanee Tournament: Places 6-15 received a rod and reel combo. Big Fish Winners (largest kokanee): Blind Bogey Winner (random limit length selection): |
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"We caught our fish while trolling pine and purple hoochies and Apex lures at 55 to 80 feet deep in the Glory Hole Area," said Jim. "The first fish that James hooked was our also the largest, measuring 17-1/4 inches long. The bite really took off first thing in the morning - we could have finished with limits in the first 30 minutes."
Since 1992, CIFFI-Project Kokanee has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Game to fund the continued planting of kokanee in California Lakes. This productive and cooperative relationship has resulted in over 15 million kokanee being planted - almost a million a year, every year. For more information on CIFFI, contact them on the web at: www.kokanee.org.