The American Fishing Foundation’s inaugural '2008 Klamath Fishing Derby' and accompanying community events from August 28 through 31 included four days of fun, fishing, and fundraising for good causes. It was one of the well-organized fishing events I’ve ever been to – and I’ve been to lots of derbies and tournaments.

When Cal Kellogg and I arrived on the early morning of August 29 at the Redwood Rest Stop Campground in the Terwer Valley where the event was headquartered, we were impressed by the big layout of comfortable outfitter tents, bathrooms, shower facilities and dinner hall that had been erected for the event by Mark Warner, treasurer of the American Fishing Foundation, and volunteers. We checked in at the derby office, where charts and schedules adorning the wall demonstrated the absolute precision manner in which the event was organized.

We met Allen Bonslett, Fish Sniffer Publisher, and his son Derek, who had slept overnight in the tent assigned to the Fish Sniffer Team, and we ate a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, fruit and other goodies. We were assigned to fish with Kevin Brock of Brock’s Guide Service that day, a guide legendary for his fish catching prowess and his popularity among anglers.

The 92 participants and 26 fishing guides then launched their boats on the river and began fishing, the vast majority going upriver. The five of us began boondoggling roe just above the campground at the Terwer Riffle.

“Cast a bit to the left and let your roe bounce along the bottom,” coached Kevin. “When you get a bite, hesitate an extra second before setting the hook”

The action started quickly, with me hooking and releasing a 16-1/2 inch steelhead within about ten minutes of fishing. Then on the next drift I caught and released the trip’s first salmon, a 19 incher.

Throughout the day, we hooked three more fish. Allen and Cal both lost salmon, while Derek caught and released a 21 inch jack salmon. We fished a variety of spots up and down the river to Blue Creek, but the fishing was quite tough. Most other guides and anglers also reported slow fishing. The weather was hot, with shorts and t-shirts the standard attire.

On the first day, a total of 98 fish were caught and released by the 92 participants, a little over one fish per rod. Team #6, including Andrew Giacomini, Dave Burns, Al Baylaqc, and Dorian Zaentz, finished first with 170 total points while fishing with guide Frank Duarte.

Team #2, including Nick Angeli, Duane Angel, Erick Schweiki and Nolan Schweiki, came in second with a total of 115 points while fishing with Frank Townley of Fishin’ Magician Guide Service.

Fish caught during the derby were scored according to the following categories: adult salmon 36 in. or greater - 30 points, adult salmon 22 in. to 36 in. – 20 points, jack salmon 16 in. to 22 in. – 10 points, adult steelhead 30 in. or greater – 35 points, adult steelhead 22 in. to 30 in. – 25 points, and non-adult steelhead 16 in. to 22 in. – 15 points.

The derby sponsors highly recommended catch and release, so if the entire team released all fish during the event, they received 90 additional bonus points. Teams were also able to purchase “Wild Card Points” to add to their score.

On the second day, the fog had arrived on the Klamath and the weather was much cooler. We never took off our sweatshirts and jackets. The fishing was also much better for everybody. Apparently some fresh salmon had moved into the mouth and many fish taken this day were adult chinooks over 22 inches, in contrast to the jacks that predominated the day before.

We started again fishing at the Terwer Riffle, the day’s hot spot. Cal was the first to hook up, capturing a scrappy 23 inch chinook. Allen then hooked and landed a bright, hard-fighting chinook about the same size.

However, after that it was definitely Derek’s day. Derek hooked and landed a 21 inch jack – and hooked a fish on the next pass.

This fish fought totally differently than the other fish, straining his light Loomis rod and ripping off many yards of line as it surged downriver. Kevin followed the fish with the boat and Derek handled it like a champ. All of the other boats were watching as Derek fought the lunker.

Finally, Derek got the fish near the boat and Kevin netted it. It was even larger than anybody anticipated, measuring 36-1/4 inches long and weighing 21 pounds. It was the largest fish that anybody saw landed that day, an awesome silver-bright chinook right out of the ocean.

Amazing enough, on the following drifts, Derek landed two more adults measuring 26 and 25 inches long. I joked with him that he was like a “Human Gill Net” that swept up everything in his path!

However, the fishing entered a temporary lull. After we ate a feast of barbecued hamburger and barbecued pork ribs around noon upriver at Blue Creek, we got back to fishing. I briefly hooked a salmon, my first of the day, and finally caught an exceptionally scrappy 23 inch chinook. Cal caught and released his second chinook of the day, another feisty small adult.

Anglers in other boats on the river were hooking up all day long also. However, Team #2 (the Cloverdale Crew) - Nick Angeli, Duane Angeli, Erick Schweiki and Nolan Schweiki - had the best day of all while fishing with Frank Townley, winning first place in total points.

The anglers ended up with total of 390 fish points. With their wild cards and bonus points, they scored a total of 1580 points. The first place team all received Engraved Silver Belt Buckles for their victory.

Team #8, including Ken Langer, Dean Langer, Dick Linsay, and Glen Martella, fished with guide Gary Farley to place second with 1360 total team points. They received engraved silver pocket knives for their efforts.

Team #17, comprised of Charlie Bussman, Debbie Bussman, Jack Foster, and Vicki Sleight, took third place in total points. They ended up with 1320 points while fishing with guide John Woolworth. They went home with engraved silver money clips.

Team #2 also took first place in total fish points with 390 points during the two day event. Their guide, Frank Townley, won the "top guide" award.

Finally, Tony Leonardo of Fortuna won the "Pro Angler" award by racking up 150 fish points. He fished with Team #12 with guide Ken Armstrong.

Net proceeds raised during this event will fund two projects - the Roy Rook Boat Docks and Facility Upgrades and the Klamath Yearling Chinook Program.

The fund will re-establish the annual installation of the floating boat dock facility at Roy Rook boat ramp located in the Klamath Glen. It shall also provide funds for required annual maintenance and upgrade costs.

“This facility and its improvements shall help increase boat traffic flow, create safer boat boarding for all passengers, and provide safe and secure mooring for all vessels,” said Mark Warner.

The derby funds will also provide fish food for the yearling chinook at Irongate Hatchery. “These fish will now be released into the river on a staggered schedule and later than usual, thus giving these fish a much better chance of survival with increased return rates,” explained Warner. “This also helps reduce competition against native stocks within the river system.”

The American Fishing Foundation is working to build unity among fishing guides, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and Indian Tribes to preserve and enhance salmon and steelhead fisheries, according to Warner. It is AFF's intent as an organization to unify and strengthen these now fragmented groups and communities under one single dynamic voice and then seek “fair, equitable, and balanced change” for the eventual restoration of the once abundant anadromous fish populations of the Pacific Coast Region.

Guides participating in the derby included Frank Townley, Gary Farley, Ken Cunningham, Wally Johnson, Joe Whaley, John Woolworth, Mick Thomas, Murrey Wolfe, Alan Borges, Ray Chew, John Klar, Albert Kutzkey, Frank Duarte, Kim Hagen, Gary Hicks, Jack Hanson, Harvey Young, Kenny Armstrong, Steve Huber, Jim Barsamer, J.D Richey, Mike Moore, Kevin Brock, Jim Burns and Ken Dupont.

The derby wasn’t the final event of the big weekend. On Sunday, August 31, the Klamath Chamber of Commerce held their “Annual Pancake Breakfast” from to help support local Chamber events and programs. This was followed by the Klamath Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary’s annual “World Famous BBQ.”

Fore more information about next year’s derby call Mark Warner, Treasurer, American Fishing Foundation, phone: (415) 785-8095, cell: (415) 999-2434, fax: (415) 785-8096, www.affinc.org.

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