Downieville Father's Day Fishing Derby

Submitted by:
Buck Weckman

Event organizers for the 2013 Downiville Father's Day Fishing Derby were well pleased with this years event. According to Michael Galan, who helped sign up the young contestants, there were over 43 kids participating ranging in ages from four to fourteen years of age. Contestants, along with their fathers and other family members came from near and far; the first place winner was from the San Francisco Bay area, the second and third places winners were from nearby Brownsville in Yuba County. For the Derby, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife had planted 2000 trout in the Yuba River. The forty three young contestants fanned out along the river's banks and the fishing was hot. Everyone caught fish.

When not fishing contestants and their families could be seen enjoying the small mountain town scenery, eating a hamburger or pizza at one of the restaurants overlooking the Yuba River or having an ice cream on main street. Some of the families were camping at one of the many United States Forest Service Campgrounds that can be found along the Yuba River both below and above Downieville on Highway 49.

(left to right) Jacob Goodnight-Third Place of Brownsville, Wyatt Weckman-Second Place of Brownsville, Gabe Schmidt-First Place of Brentwood, CA.

The top three fisher-persons in the Derby received a cash prize and a gift certificate. Galan, also noted, that the event was made possible by donations of time, money and fishing supplies from: Cindy McGeary of Downieville, Sierra Hardware, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Walmart Corporation, Downieville area residents Jim Johnson, John Luster, Gary Grutkowski and others.