Fourth Annual Bishop Trout Rodeo catch and release event draws larger crowd and more fish.

BY BOB SEMERAU

Western Outdoor News Staff Writer

BISHOP— There was plenty of action for competing anglers despite heavy rains on days prior to the 2025 Bishop Trout Rodeo (BTR), but at game time skies had cleared and weather warmed. The turn in the weather made an excellent day fishing in Bishop’s back yard.

A last minute notice from LADWP announced flows on the lower Owens would be increased to 200-FPS the morning of the event, creating some concern among participating anglers. In the end, most agreed, the slightly muddied waters had little bearing on success.

The tournament is strictly catch and release. Anglers could fish all DFW approved “open” waters from Long Ears in the north (Upper Owens) all the way down to Independence in the south. BTR headquarters is set up at Bishop’s Tri-County Fairgrounds, also the site for the competition’s awards ceremony and dinner.

          Since size matters in the BTR, Tournament director, Michael Schweit, had instructed anglers to snap a quick photo of each catch with a measuring tape clearly showing fish length, and log them in on the iANGLER App, returning fish to the water quickly for a safe release. This year Schweit introduced the Fishtechy App adding to the accuracy of catch scoring. Anglers were instructed to use the Fishtechy “proof ball” while photographing their catch, then enter the photo into the app. The fish is then magically measured, using AI, and logged. Anglers enter their catch into iANGLER.com to complete the process.

Shortly after the 9:00 a.m. start, a raft of logged fish reports came into the Bishop Trout Rodeo tournament headquarters and transferred to the leaderboard in real time. The system proved challenging for some participants, but results were generally favorable.

One newcomer to the event showed up as a strong competitor to be watched. Bishop angler, Julie Faber, fished on team Fish N Friends, posting dozens of fish throughout the day. The three person team, along with Faber, included Tom Paulson and Jonathan Shimizu.

“We fished by the Laws Bridge, with Julie out in the river and me along the shoreline,” explained Paulson at the awards ceremony and dinner later that day. Faber fished a three-fly dry-dropper rig on a TFO 4 wt. 9-1/2-foot fly rod, while Paulson landed his fish on a Tenkara set up.

         Anglers fished the Upper Owens and Lake Crowley tributaries, Hot Creek, the Lower Owens and any water down to Independence, “open” by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Resulting catch logs showed 333 caught and released, totaling 4,289-inches.

The annual Bishop Trout Rodeo, held Saturday, February 8, 2025, was open to all comers, spinning gear or fly-fishers. For this annual event, director Michael Schweit had loaded in some exciting sponsor-supplied swag for raffle prizes at the end of the day’s fishing, including guided trips throughout the Owens Valley and an excellent spinning rod and reel set, provided by local shop, Reagan’s Fishing Tackle. A couple of Western Outdoor News subscriptions were a highlight of the prize pool.

The four categories in the competition included Fly-Fishing team, Fly-Fishing individual, Gear-Fishing team, and Gear-Fishing individual, with coveted prizes going to most total inches and largest individual catch.

Winning top honors in the Fly-Fishing Individual category, Tom Paulson, totaling over 764-inches, while teammate Faber nailed down second individual fly angler.

Taking first place in the Team Gear division was Vince Sainz and George Silva of team Sainz Cats. Second place, gear team division, went to team Gorgeous Guppies – Brady Kalk, Weston White, Ty Arcularius, and Westin Dondero. Third place was team Brown Trout Brotherhood – Jerry Bender, Kevin Gorecki, Len Gorecki, Matthew Whalen.

A special award was given to angler Chris Zettner who logged the largest fish of the day, a 27-inch carp. Zettner fished with his 14 1/2- year old son, Hudson Olson with the father-son team, Hooked and Loaded, nailing down second place in the Fly Fishing Team division. Third place went to team Flyfudeskies – Justin Hopfer, Oliver Anderson, Andrew McClellan.                                  Representing Ventura County, Team Sespe! made the long run to the upper Owens to begin the day. Finding biting cold and fierce winds, the four-man team headed back to a spot just below the dam. While the group, Steve Schalla, Gary Scott, Mike McLellan, and Tim Carpenter, ended the competition out of the money, they agreed they would be back again next year.

Representing Casting for Recovery, the organization offering free Fly Fishing retreats for women with breast cancer, anglers Cindy Wilson, Anissa Iseda, and Kerry Bedell, coached in the tournament in the tournament by local guide Beryl Rea, all logged fish onto the leader board.

As the competition wound down at 4 p.m. catch logs continued to digitally flow when anglers found cell service on their way to the BTR tournament HQ at Bishop’s Tri-County Fairgrounds.

Raffle tickets given to division winners and those purchased by anglers not so lucky, were dropped into buckets for the exciting prizes offered at the awards.

Local guide, Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing’s, Fred Rowe, put up a free trip, as did Bishop’s Get Bent Outfitters. Other sponsors included, Black Sheep Coffee Roasters, ESZ Tenkara Rods, Western Outdoor News, Fincognito Clothing, Orvis – Pasadena, Fishtechy, Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO), and the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce.

Considering the recent wildfires across Southern California, BTR director, Michael Schweit, has donated $1,500.00 from the proceeds of the event to Altadena non-profit entities.

Bishop Trout Rodeo 2025 Results:

Gear Individual

First – Vince Sainz

Second – Milton Rios

Third – George Silva

Gear Team

First – Sainz Cats – Vince Sainz, George Silva

Second – Gorgeous Guppies – Brady Kalk, Weston White, Ty Arcularius, Westin Dondero

Third – Brown Trout Brotherhood – Jerry Bender, Kevin Gorecki, Len Gorecki, Matt Whalen

Fly Individual

First – Thomas Paulson

Second – Julie Faber

Third – Hudson Olson

Fly Team

First – Fish N Friends – Thomas Paulson, Julie Faber, Jonathan Shimizu

Second – Hooked and Loaded – Hudson Olson, Chris Zettner

Third – Flyfudeskies – Justin Hopfer, Oliver Anderson, Andrew McClellan

Contacts:

Michael Schweit BTR Director 818-601-9702 [email protected]

Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce 760-873-8405 www.bishopvisitor.com