Kids Carp Derby offers quality family experience

If you have children that are interested in a great angling experience in a family oriented activity, you can't go wrong signing your kids or grandkids for the NDOW Kids Carp Derby on Saturday at Lahontan Reservoir. This fishing derby offers children ages 3 through early teens an almost guaranteed opportunity to catch numerous fish which range in size from 2 to 12 pounds.

I can say from experience that there is no other fishing derby for youth in Nevada that offers bigger fish than this one. The first clinic of this type was held at Lahontan Reservoir in 2001 in an effort to make use of a fishing resource that had good potential, but was pretty much undiscovered. At this time I was the supervising fisheries biologist for the Western Region of NDOW, trying to increase angler use at Lahontan Reservoir. Kids Carp Clinics were being promoted in the eastern U.S. as a really fun way to get children involved in fishing. The recipe for success was detailed in an American Fisheries Society publication, "Carp in North America."

The key to a successful derby lies in pre-baiting the cove used for the derby with cracked corn. This practice, commonly known as chumming is legal in Lahontan Reservoir and only a few other waters around the state. The bait is prepared by boiling cracked corn in grape Kool-Aid. The area is baited three days and a day prior to the date of the derby. On derby day, every carp in a half mile radius is licking his rubbery lips, lying in wait for his next kernel of corn.

The kids in the derby are provided with canned corn, baited on a single hook and the action is wild. Parents do get involved helping their kids crank in the hefty fish. The fishing period is short, running from 8 a.m. to noon. Afterward, prizes are awarded and family members settle in the shade of the nearest cottonwood to have their lunch. Bring your lawn chairs, lunch, snacks and drinks as they are not provided and catching fish all morning does build an appetite.

Chris Vasey, NDOW's angling education coordinator has been involved with the derby since the beginning and has been very successful in getting prizes donated for everyone who attends. Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse are big donors this year. The kids are separated into four different age categories to make the competition for the biggest fish more even. Those who catch the biggest fish will be awarded with new fishing rods or tackle boxes. All the participants will receive T-shirts that have a cartoon carp and say, "I'm a sucker for carp."

Carp were introduced to Nevada in 1881 by the first Fish Commissioner of the State as a supreme sporting and eating fish. The U.S. Fish Commission used a specially designed railroad fish car to distribute fish to all waters near existing rail lines. Within 10 years, this fish had a bad reputation as they muddied the waters of the Humboldt, Carson, Walker and Truckee rivers with their bottom feeding activities and out competed the more desirable native fish species. Anglers and fisheries biologists have been trying to get rid of the big scaly fish for more than 100 years. A few have tried to capitalize on the sporting qualities of carp in those places where we just have to live with them.

It is ironic that it takes the fresh mind of a child to help us realize that it's not the fish on the end of the line that's important, but the size of the fight. To register for Saturday's Kids Carp Fishing Derby call 775-688-1559. The derby will be held just south of the main boat ramp on the north end of the reservoir. The turnoff to the boat ramp is 7.5 miles east of Silver Springs on Highway 50. I hope to see you there.