Silent Valley Camping Club Hosts Second Annual Fishing Derby

City News Group community writer Pete Petersen and his great-grandchildren Clarissa and David McCarver caught three channel catfish at the Silent Valley Camping Club’s second annual fishing derby over the July 4 holiday weekend. One of the fish David caught was a $100 fish, but not the first one caught. Five fish were tagged for a $100 derby prize, five for $75, five for $50 and five for $25. When a derby fish is caught, the fisherman must run up to the derby monitor or ranger to identify it. The first fish caught in each category is the winner. Silent Valley’s Camping Club’s Fishing Derby is held three times a year, stocking the lake with 350 5-pound farm-fed channel catfish. The fee for the Fishing Derby is $10, permitting participants to catch five fish. The hours are 7 a.m. to noon with the lake closing until 1 p.m. to continue fishing for the remainder of the day. Dennis DeLaCruz, owner and member from Moreno Valley, had the $100 trophy fish by 8 a.m. By 10 a.m. his grandsons, Nathan and Owen, had caught the $50 and $25 trophy fish. By 10 a.m. the three generations of the DeLaCruz family had caught 19 of their 20 fish limit. Their secret bait is chicken livers, night crawlers and hot dogs. What is yours? The next Fishing Derby is Sept. 5, Labor Day Weekend. If you would like to visit the 5-star Camping Resort, there is a four-day, three-night "free get acquainted camping of our family-style camping" offer. No rig, no tent, no problem. As supplies last for the price per night of a motel room we will put you into a furnished recreation vehicle. Call 951-849-4501 ext. 210 for a reservation and questions. Hey! Tell ‘em Pete sent ya!