March Madne$$ In Kern County: Catch Tagged Trout, Win Big At Isabella Lake Fishing Derby In Late March

The following appears in the March issue of California Sportsman:

By Chris Cocoles

This will be the moment for the Kern River Valley when everyone comes together to put on a spectacular trout fishing show. The Isabella Lake Fishing Derby has become one of the calendar’s biggest weekends in this corner of Kern County in the southern Sierra. Usually held the weekend before Easter, this year’s 35th edition of the derby is set for March 28-30.

“The whole community itself gets involved, the businesses get involved. It’s more than just a revenue stream. It’s just what we do. It’s who we are,” says Fred Clark, a local insurance agency owner who has been involved with the derby since 2017 and its chairman the last six years. “It’s fun to be a part of this event and the businesses just try to stay positive. It’s critical to the whole infrastructure of what we do.”

Clark, who runs his insurance agency out of the community of Lake Isabella, about an hour’s drive northeast of Bakersfield, is proud of the legacy his area has created with this annual trout derby. He says two of his right-hand men, Jim Wyly and Tom McKinney, have been involved with this event since the very beginning more than three decades ago.

“I use them like a sponge for some of the old-school stuff and try to bring some of that history back,” Clark says.

A TEAM EFFORT

Every year, the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby hosts a booth at area sportsmen’s shows leading into the spring. At this month’s Central Valley Sportsman’s Show at Bakersfield’s Kern County Fairgrounds (March 13-15; calshows.com), their booth will be adjacent to that of Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop, a longtime friend to the derby.

“When we sign up for the sportsman shows, we are usually very close, if not directly next to, the Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop booth because everyone is going to Cope’s booth looking for lake gear or ocean gear,” Clark says. “They’re doing the local stuff, and we’re local, so we promote, promote, promote. It’s just what we are and what we do, especially being part of (the Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce).”

Cope’s has partnered with fishing brands like Berkley, Pflueger and Shakespeare, and will offer plenty of quality gear as part of the various derby prizes handed out for fish caught, draws and “VIP Bags” available for entrants.

At derby headquarters during the fishing weekend, Cope’s will have its own booth, featuring demo gear with pro staff members on hand. Gear giveaways are also in play for select derby youth entrants aged 12 and under (while supplies last).

“This year I’m super grateful to Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop because they were able to get a major supplier to come back … and there’s going to be some pretty neat stuff,” Clark says.

PLENTY OF FISH IN THE LAKE

In recent years, the derby has partnered with a third-party trout farm, which is in charge of releasing the tagged trout and making sure most of the tags don’t fall off during the stocking process.

As in the past, there will be some valuable rainbows on tap for those who purchase a Isabella Lake Fishing Derby ticket ($50 for adults, $15 for kids 15 and under).

Besides the popular Bobber Bowl (select $100 tagged fish caught will be eligible for a mystery bobber draw featuring additional prize money), there’s also the Blind Bogey draw (anyone who catches a trout, tagged or not, will gain entry into a contest for more cash prizes).

“We’re still giving away a minimum of over $1,000 every afternoon at 5 p.m. with Blind Bogey,” Clark adds.

The tagged fish can be valuable catches.

“The thing that I like about what we do currently, there are 500 tagged fish in the lake; three of them are going to be worth $10,000, two $5,000 fish; 10 $500s, 10 $250s, 100 $100 fish and then the balance is split up between $20 and $50,” Clark explains. “So theoretically, roughly 300 of the 500 fish pay for your entry.”

And entrants should have reasonably good prospects of making some money. Last year’s derby featured a $10,000 tagged trout reported; the year before included a $5,000 rainbow, with the $10,000 fish and a $5,000 catch the year before that.

“So it happens when there are enough lines in the water like we have,” Clark says.

CROWDED SHORELINES

Last year, the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby saw 1,760 tickets purchased – “every year we get a few handfuls that don’t show up and just pay,” Clark reports – and he says “95 percent of the anglers are fishing from the shore.”

So just how should entrants, especially new Isabella Lake fishers, approach the tagged trout just waiting to be caught? Many entrants will soak Power Bait in various colors and variations.

“The biggest thing is to fish with light line – we get a lot of people out there who don’t truly know how to fish for trout. Use any of the baits that have garlic in them, because for some reason they work really well,” says Clark.

He is particularly bullish on garlic- scented Mice Tails.

“And be ready to have a little bit of fun; have your basic fishing gear that you need and have a little bit of patience; and don’t try to cast in the middle of the lake,” he tips. “All of these fish are raised in 10 feet of water and it’s going to take them a while to go deep. So kind of fish shallow. I’m not saying to fish 5 feet from shore, but to get to 8 to 10 feet of water.”

STILL A RUSH

The tradition of this event is a big part of the Kern River Valley’s social calendar. Mid-February’s Whiskey Flat Days was another popular gathering for locals and visitors alike, but this year wasn’t as busy as past events.

Clark does worry about the economy and whether it is strong enough to draw visitors to signature events like this month’s derby. But

he’s still expecting a big turnout, even if the weather is bad (see sidebar below). And he is just as excited as ever to showcase the lake, its trout and those who call this area home.

“Every year as we get closer, I keep going, ‘Dear God; why do I keep doing this?’” Clark jokes. “I’m really looking forward to being at derby headquarters.” CS

Editor’s note: To register for the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby, go to kernrivervalley.com/isabellalakefishingderby. Early- bird registration ends on March 11 at 5 p.m. You can also call the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce (760- 369-5236) or send an email to office@ kernrivervalley.com.

Sidebar: DON’T SWEAT THE RAIN, WIND OR SNOW

Isabella Lake Fishing Derby chairman Fred Clark doesn’t check the weather forecast the week of his big trout contest event that begins on Saturday, March 28.

“I don’t even care because the derby weekend is going on regardless of whether there’s a blizzard or it’s beautiful,” Clark says. “I just hope for the best and say we’re gonna get what we get.”

Take the 2025 event that was held in mid-April. 

“Last year, the first day was great and the last two were horrible,” Clark says. “On that Sunday and Monday the wind blew so bad there was nobody on the water (in boats). Half the people on the shore said they couldn’t keep their lines straight. It just makes it a miserable nightmare when it gets like that.”

Old-timers can recall derby weekends with snow falling as well (at an elevation of just about 2,500 feet). 

“The people that have been here for years, they love to talk about things like, ‘You remember that time when it was snowing during the derby?’ ‘Yeah, I remember it well,’” he says. 

But one thing’s for sure: With a late March weekend, the water temperature should be ideal with the holdovers and stocked tagged rainbows likely cruising the shallows around the lake’s shoreline, where bank anglers should be omnipresent.

“The colder the water, the happier they are,” says Clark, who will be fired up for this latest event no matter if the weather is epic or it sucks.

“At Isabella, I have a standing joke now that we have what’s called ‘Derby Weather.’ The week before the derby it can be beautiful, sunny, calm, without an ounce of wind. And then the three days of the derby come and it’s blowing 60 miles per hour, sleet, snow and it goes to (hell). And the day after the sun comes back out and it’s beautiful again.”

“It’s the nature of the beast,” he adds. 

And most of those on hand to catch trout worth as much $10,000 will be just as excited to try their luck. –CC