Hopefully, you will be able to help make this event successful and will be able to attend. Maybe YOU will be the Lucky person to catch the $10,000 grand prize trout! Let's go fishing & Sign-up Now!  

The 15th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby drew 492 participants on July 16, 2011, at Wishon Lake.  Only four tagged fish were caught during the event, and the $10,000 tagged fish number 1538 managed to elude all the anglers.   If it is caught, it is worth $1,000 through September 30, 2011 to all Fishing Derby registrants. The breakdown was as follows: 1 @ $100, 2 @ $50 and 1 @ $25, with a total of $225 paid out. Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non - tagged trout for adults and children categories. The first place adult winner was: Debbie Kimberling, of Sanger, 79.25 total inches. The first place winner for the children category was: fifteen-year-old Errick P. Lee, of Fresno, 85.50 total inches.  (See a list of the 2011 winners) and (See photos of the 2011 winners).

Paul Gottfried of Clovis, CA was the $1,000 "Lucky Winner" of the grand prize tagged fish caught after the 15th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Fishing Derby held on July 16, 2011.  Paul caught the tagged fish on August 25th.

The Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby has raised a total of $106,716 for Special Olympics over the past 15 years.

The 14th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby was a tremendous success and drew 600 participants on July 17, 2010, at Wishon Lake. A total of 18 tagged fish were caught. The breakdown was as follows: 2 @ $100, 3 @ $50 and 13 @ $25, with a total of $675 paid out. The $10,000 tagged fish number 224 was not caught. If it is caught, it is worth $1,000 through September 30, 2010 to all Fishing Derby registrants. Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non - tagged trout for adults and children categories. The winners for the Adult categories were: Ephraim Murad 68.50, Boni Escobedo 68, Debbie Kimberling 67. The winners for the Children categories were: Kody Bird 66.75, Errick Lee 66.75, Gabriel Nelle 63.75. (see a list of the 2010 winners) and (see photos of the 2010 winners). The Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby has raised  a total of $101,696 for Special Olympics over the past 14 years.  Wishon Lake was full, bountifully stocked with fish by the Department of Fish and Game, the weather was very comfortable and pleasant, and fun was had by all that participated.

The 13th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby drew 527 participants on July 11, 2009 at Wishon Lake. A total of 50 tagged fish were caught. The breakdown was as follows: 5 @ $100, 4 @ $50 and 41 @ $25, with a total of $1,725 paid out. The $10,000 tagged fish number 938 was not caught. If it is caught, it is worth $1,000 through September 30, 2009 to all Fishing Derby registrants. Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non-tagged trout for adults and children categories. The winners for the Adult categories were: Cindy Lee 64.75, Manuel Ortiz 63.50, Ellen Winslow 63.25, Rudy Reyes 62.75 and Bill Abkins 61.75. The winners for the Children categories were: Lilly Graffigna 63.00, (see photo of winner), Dara Tacherra 59.00, Christopher Ramirez 58.50, Anthony Borges 55.75 and Cole Marchant 55.75. (see a list of the 2009 winners) and (see photos of the 2009 winners) The Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby has raised a total of $89,185 for Special Olympics over the past 12 years. Wishon Lake was full, bountifully stocked with fish by the Department of Fish and Game, the weather was very comfortable and pleasant, the service provided by the owners and staff at Wishon Village RV Resort was exceptional and fun was had by all that participated.

We are pleased to have received a letter from Oscar Hinojosa, Sports Manager for the Special Olympics Northern California Central Valley Region. In summary it says Special Olympics Northern California would like to express their gratitude and deepest heartfelt thank you, on behalf of the Special Olympics athletes of the Central Valley for your ongoing donations totaling over $77,000 over a ten year period. Your annual Kiwanis Fishing Derby is truly one of the highlights on the Special Olympics calendar. See the text of entire letter.

The 12th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby drew 582 participants on July 12, 2008 at Wishon Lake. A total of 7 tagged fish were caught. The breakdown was as follows: 0 @ $100, 2 @ $50 and 5 @ $25, with a total of $225 paid out. The $10,000 tagged fish number 324 was not caught. If it is caught, it is worth $1,000 through September 30, 2008 to all Fishing Derby registrants.  Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non-tagged trout for adults and children categories.  The winners for the Adult categories were: Frank Winslow of Kerman 68.50", Bill Dowell of Fresno 65.50", Annie Vitale of Visalia 64.50”, Roland Summers of Riverdale 64.00" and Elizabeth Hamilton of Sanger 64.00". The winners for the Children categories were: David Schultz of Riverdale 64.75", Garrett Sanders of Fresno 64.00", Patrick Rapp of Fresno 63.50”, Cole Marchant 63.25" and Trevor Lee of Fresno 62.00”. (see a list of the 2008 winners) and (see photos of the 2008 winners)  

The 11th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby drew 438 participants on July 14, 2007 at Wishon Lake. A total of 59 tagged fish were caught.  The breakdown was as follows:  6@$100, 9@$50 and 44@$25, with a total of $2,150 paid out.  The $10,000 tagged fish number 1114 was not caught.  Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non-tagged trout for adults and children categories.  The winners for the Adult categories were: Roland Summers of Riverdale 69.25", Richard Bell of Coalinga 66.50", Jared Vosburgh of Reedley 66", Jeff Friesen of Fresno 65.50" and Diana Pearcy of Visalia 65.50". The winners for the Children categories were: Sarah Tharp of Visalia 67.75", Michael Witney of Handford 66", Joseph McFarland of Clovis 63.50, Jacob Egoron of Fresno 62.75", and Ian Nielsen of Berkeley 62.50”.   Even with the low water level, the derby was a successful event.  The Trout Derby was a Fund Raiser to benefit the Special Olympics of Fresno.

The 10th Annual Kiwanis Special Olympics Trout Fishing Derby Grand Prize $10,000 tagged fish # 748 was caught by Dennis Wilt of Kerman. (see a message from the winner) (see a list of the 2006 winners) and (see photos of the 2006 winners) Prizes were also awarded for total inches of non-tagged Trout for adults and children categories. The winners for the Adult categories were: Sam Burciaga of Fresno 67", Rebecca Rivera of Fresno 65", Bill Klastskin of Torrance 65", Rollen Summers of Riverside 64.25" and Tom Hoskins of Fresno 64". The winners for the Children categories were: Colton Cates of Coarsegold 61.25", Dana Tacherra of Burrel 59.75", Garrett Tharp of Visalia 58.25, Denee Tracherra of Burrel 57.50", and Preston Classen of Paso Robles 56".