Outdoorsmen group seeks help after annual trout derby canceled due to budget cuts

A popular trout fishing derby in Cahuilla lake isn’t casting out lines this year.

“Its been taking place since I was a kid, I’m now 45, and with the exception of maybe one or two times its been canceled, its been on,” said Julian Rangel, warden for Desert Valley Outdoorsmen/women.

The derby lets parents and their children enjoy the great outdoors but Riverside County says that recreation comes at a high price

“Typically fishing derbies we lose money,” said Scott Bangle, Parks Director/General Manager of Riverside County Regional Parks.

The county pays for the fish that stock the lake during the derby. The price per fish has nearly doubled from around 3 dollars per fish to 6

“We would have probably eaten up our whole budget for the year or a good part of it for that lake had we done the derby,” Bangle said. “It’s like anything you have to live within your means, so when the price doubled we had to make some decisions, it was a no-brainer.”

Now Rangel and his organization, Desert Valley Outdoorsmen and women need the community’s help to get the trout jumping again

“we understand funds at times for communities does get low, what I’m looking to do, is get the word out that it has been canceled maybe some of these local businesses or organizations can help out, we all take care of each other here in the valley it’s a small valley,” Rangel said.

The county says the event can still happen at Cahuilla Lake in late February if there’s another source of funding.

“We’re open to any sort of partnerships, I think it is possible, but yes we’d have to find different funding,” Bangle said.

Rangel and the DVO are set to meet with officials from the Riverside County Parks Department on October 17 to discuss ways to keep the derby alive.