Bass Are Jumpin in 2021

Hold on to your fishing poles, the Rio Vista Bass Derby is back for a 73^rd year!  This Rio Vista tradition is an integral part of Rio Vista history and the Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival.  Way back in the beginning of the derby, the stories passed down through history are that over 10,000 people attended the derby! The days of 10,000 people fishing the derby are long gone and probably for a good reason, but we have had  well over 20,000 people attend our Festival over the 3 days and 400-1000 derby participants. The derby runs for 3 days, starting on Oct 8 at 6:00 am to Oct 10 at 3:00 pm. Contestants fish for striped bass, salmon & sturgeon from Sacramento to the Bay on the Sacramento River.

The California Striped Bass Association-  Isleton Chapter is the official Weigh Master of the derby and will run the weigh station each day. The weigh station will be located at 1 Main Street, next to Rio Vista City Hall and the city dock. This area is easily accessible to the newly renovated City of Rio Vista Boat Launch.

 Our BIG announcement for July is that salmon WILL be included as a category in the derby. Earlier this year, we announced the removal of the category due to the serious decline of the salmon run and changes that were made to our permit by California Fish & Wildlife.  We continued to discuss including salmon as it is an important part of the derby.  After a recent discussion with the CSBA, they shared some fishing insight that prompted the committee to reverse the decision and include salmon in the derby but with changes to the rules to meet the CFW permit guidelines.  Per the CFW permit,  our derby rules must be: “Anglers must keep the first two (2) legal size salmon caught.”

The great prize money is back!  We plan to have at least 15 places for the striper category with the big money prizes for the first 3 winners. Striped Bass: 1^st place winner is $3000.00, 2^nd place – $1500, 3^rd Place – $1000 plus an additional 12 places of fish gear and other great prizes.  White Sturgeon: 1^st place winner – $1000.00,  2^nd place – $500, 3^rd Place- $200.  Salmon: 1^st place winner – $1000.00, 2^nd place – $500, 3^rd Place – $200.  The adult derby sponsors this year are Rio Vista Farms and Sportsman’s Warehouse.            

Each angler in the derby must be 16 years or older and have purchased an official 2021 Rio Vista Bass Derby ticket by 5:30 am on Friday, October 8, 2021. Tickets are $50 per angler contestant and the first 300 ticket holders are eligible to receive a derby hat.

We take our rules & regulations seriously!  Our weigh station is run by the CSBA who carefully follow the rules to weigh and measure the fish to determine their placement in the derby.  The weigh station is equipped with a precision laser scale for length and a certified calibrated weigh scale.  Contestants will need to 1) Have an official valid Rio Vista Bass Derby ticket; 2) Be the fisherman that caught the fish; 3) Officially turn their fish in to the weigh station in person;. 4) Have a valid government picture ID. Cheating will not be tolerated.

The Kids Striper & Catfish Derby also runs at the same time. The kids derby is sponsored by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) with additional prizes donated by Waldie & Associates Real Estate and The CSBA Isleton Chapter.  Kids derby tickets are $10. The 1^st- 50 ticket holders will receive an official Rio Vista Bass Derby kids hat. Each angler must be 15 years of age or younger and can weigh-in striped bass or catfish. The striped bass must be a minimum legal size of 18” and not over 24”. Winning fish to be closest to 24”. Catfish can be any size with the top weight & length being the winner.  All other Rio Vista Derby rules and regulations apply.  All entries must be caught by the child angler.  Adults may not catch the entry and have a child turn it in.  Prizes will be a $50 gift certificate for the 1^st place winners in each of the two categories (striped bass and catfish) and we are planning for up to 15 or more placements.

Some of the rules have changed over the years.  For instance, we accept fish caught from Sacramento to the Bay in the Sacramento River. This rule was changed from fishing in the Rio Vista area only so that the one specific area of the river is not completely fished out.  Contestants can bank fish or fish from a boat. Fish must be caught out of the river after the start of the derby on  Oct 8^th at 6:00 am.

We hope to announce more placements for salmon and sturgeon as they become available in the next month.  If you wish to donate, call Stacia Olson at (916) 716-4997 for more info.

Visit www.bassfestival.com to purchase derby tickets, view the 2021 Official Bass Derby Rules & Regulations, and find a list of bait shops selling tickets. Tickets are also available for purchase in person at the Rio Vista Visitor Center at 33 N. Second St, Rio Vista, and various local bait shops within a 100-mile radius. Tickets will not be sold past the Oct 8^,  @ 5:30 am deadline. If you wish to donate prizes, call Stacia Olson at (916) 716-4997 for more info.  

Every year, those who run the derby and our contestants hang on the words of the fishing and weather  forecast hoping for the perfect conditions. Over the years, the derby has had its fair share of drought, heat, wind, smoke, cold water, and hot water, but in the end our contestants always manage to bring in great fish.  We can only hope for the perfect water temperature, not too hot and not too cold- just right, so the striped bass and sturgeon bite and the salmon swim upriver on Oct 8, 9^, & 10!  

For additional information, please visit www.bassfestival.com or call the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce at 707-374-2700.