Fishing Derby seeks volunteers

A big fish dives into Lampe Creek for the 2024 Kids Fishing Derby. The event is back this year.

A big fish dives into Lampe Creek for the 2024 Kids Fishing Derby. The event is back this year.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.

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The Douglas County Kids' Fishing Derby is set to return June 7-8 to Lampe Park in Gardnerville, bringing the event back for its 32nd year.

An estimated 1,500 children are expected to fish the banks of Willow Creek, with over 3,000 fish scheduled to be planted in its waters on June 5.

With only two weeks left before the event, Derby organizers are still calling for child angler participants as well as volunteers to man the event.
An estimated 300 volunteers are needed to make the Kids' Fishing Derby a success, with help still needed in all areas of the event according to the Derby's Board and Committee. From set up and tear down, to river help and fish cleaning, to food and retail sales, they say that there is no shortage of work to go around, with a job for everyone.

“You don’t even need to be a fish person to become a volunteer, we will find a place for you,” said original Derby volunteer Bob Ellis. Ellis is event’s set-up and tear-down coordinator and honorary “fish guy” since the Derby’s inception in 1989.
He says that without fish, and volunteers, the Kids' Fishing Derby wouldn't be what it is today.
"When this first started, it was only, I think, seven or eight of us to maybe, not any more than, 50 kids. We had no idea how big this thing would get. It was the Solgots, who owned The Fish Connection, who got me into this. We all started talking about having a free fishing day for the local school kids and then one day, all this fishing equipment just started showing up to my house from different companies (such as); Eagle Claw, Berkley, the Fish America Foundation. It turns out that Sue Solgot was having it sent to my house.” Said Ellis. “I just kept storing it in my garage until we got to the day we were gonna have this fishing day, and then I brought it all down to the park. It really wasn't a big thing. Some banners, a few donated rods, and some Powerbait. At the end of the day, I brought it all home again and put it all back into my garage for next year. All the while just getting these boxes every Spring until eventually we needed a whole trailer to store all this stuff."
When asked why he continues on as a volunteer, Ellis, now 72, says that it was easy to keep coming back every year.
"Once we did it the first time, we just wanted to keep doing it,” he said. “You really get hooked on it. I like to ask people, ‘Hey, you wanna take a bunch of kids fishing? How about a thousand of them over a single weekend?’ It’s just a lot of fun. For the kids, their families, and the public. It's a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. Nothing beats watching a kid catch a fish for the first time, except maybe seeing it a few hundred times over 2 days.”

Ellis’ daughter Tiffany, who swears she was bred to wear a red shirt, said the Derby has been going on for so long that she sees kids she used to fish with as a kid now signing up their children to fish the derby and to volunteer.
"It's been a wild full circle that's just really cool to see after doing this as long as we have,” said Tiffany. “It’s rewarding to know that people love this event so much, that they also come back every year and continue to share in this tradition."
Additionally, Tiffany said that some of the volunteers she grew up with are becoming less as time goes on.

"I've known some of these volunteers since I was a kid,” she said. “I look forward to seeing certain faces each year, and unfortunately, I've seen a lot of familiar names on memorial banners instead."

Tiffany hopes more people who grew up loving the event will consider joining the KFD Crew's efforts and choose to volunteer.
"Being a part of the Derby is being a part of something really special in Douglas County,” said Tiffany. “Like my dad said, ‘you'll do it once, and you'll be hooked.’ Come find out why we've been at this for 32 years and then let's do it for another 30 more."
Those interested in volunteering for the Kids’ Fishing Derby may visit www.DCNVKidsFishingDerby.org or stop by one of the registration locations. The Derby will continue to host registration for both kids and volunteers at AJ’s Stoves, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or in the Meadowdale Center Parking lot on each remaining 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. 

Volunteers must be at least 13 years old, with an adult sponsor, and all volunteers must attend at least one Volunteer Training Meeting to be assigned their job at the Derby. The last meeting is 6 p.m. June 4.

Those who volunteer for the event will be given an official KFD Volunteer hat and a free meal ticket for every two. 

Contact Danny Lozano at DCKFDVolunteers@gmail.com for more information.

All children ages 3-12 years old are welcome to fish and will be provided everything they need but must pre-register.

Registration will continue until 4 p.m. June 6.

At this time, organizers say there are still plenty of session tickets available but are expected to go fast as we get closer to the event. Email  KFDMediaTeam@gmail.com for more information.