Mad River Steelhead Derby 2024
$20.00 – $50.00
When: Monday, Jan 15 at 6am the Derby will start; the Derby will end on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6pm. All entries need to be received by 6pm. Derby Fees: Adults $40; Youth (16 years and under) $25. (these fees have a NCGASA membership built in. $20 for adults and $10 for youth).
Where: Mad River in Blue Lake / Arcata, CA. Click here for RULES
What: Catch and measure a Mad River Hatchery Steelhead’s length, from a closed mouth or nose to the center or the fork of the tail, on an official NCGASA steelhead derby ruler. Largest three steelheads in both adult and youth divisions measured and entered correctly will win cash or prizes.
Visit https://madriversteelheadderby.com for RULES, SHOP, NEWS, LEADERBOARD, OFFICIAL RULERS, SPONSOR, DONATE, RAFFLES, EARLY BIRDS, CONTACT US, ETC.
Description
The annual NCGASA Mad River Hatchery Steelhead Derby will take place during the winter run in Humboldt County on the Mad River in the Arcata/Blue Lake area on Jan. 15 (6am) – Feb. 29 (6pm). The largest hatchery steelhead caught, measured on official NCGASA rulers and entered correctly according to the rules will be eligible to win cash and prizes.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS | SIGN UPS FOR THE DERBY: If you sign up before Dec. 1 for the Derby, we will enter your name into the drawing to win 2 FREE tickets to the International Sportsmen’s Expo in Sacramento on Jan. 18-21.
Please visit Mad River Steelhead Derby’s website for more details.
Adult Category Payouts:
1st place: $500
2nd place: $300
3rd place: $150
Youth Category Payouts:
1st place: $150 Gift Card from RMI Outdoors + prizes from our sponsors
2nd place: $100 Gift Card from RMI Outdoors + prizes from our sponsors
3rd place: $50 Gift Card from RMI Outdoors + prizes from our sponsors
All anglers who wish to participate must be NCGASA members and be signed up prior to the event start date of Jan. 15 at 6am. NCGASA membership fees will be built into the registration process.
Adult fees: $40
Youth fee | under 16: $25
Youth who wish to enter the Adult Division, may do so for $40 and you must alert the Derby fishing coordinator before fishing.
New this year!
Winner Take All Raffle Prize | $50 Raffle Tickets
Purchase a $50 raffle ticket to WIN a Guided River Trip for 2 with Jack Beer Guide Service. Plus, ALL the prizes stuffed into a Mustad Addicted Fishing Chrome Hunter Tackle Backpack – Red, 40L such as: Mustad Addicted Winter Chrome Kit with braid, fluorocarbon, worm jigs, ball jigs, sink-it series jigs, fixed floats, plus a LURED Chrome hard and soft bead pack (100+ pcs), P-Line Fishing Floroclear and Striper Worm Tails, Kershaw filet knife, Pucci Red Plastic beads, Acme Tackle spoons, Western Fishing Operations worms, beads and Thermos, BnR Beads and Tackle, Mad River Mfg worms and beads, Keep Em Dry Fishing jigs, Jann’s Netcraft Spinner Blades, Seachoice Tow Ropes, Plano Organizer Boxes, and more items will continue to be added! Winner Take All Raffle prize is currently valued at more than $850. (Anyone can be entered to win)
Win a Guided Fishing Trip or a 2-Night Stay in Country House AirBnB | $20 Raffle Tickets
Win an Eel River trip for 2 with Fishing the North Coast | Kenny Priest or a Humboldt Bay Halibut trip for 1 with Redwood Coast Fishing | Mike Stratman or win a half day Ocean Trip for 1 on the F/V Wind Rose Charters out of Trinidad, CA with Captain Curtis Wilson. Or you can win a 2-night stay in the 3bdr/2bath Country House AirBnB near Blue Lake, CA. Just minutes from the Mad River. Chickens and fresh eggs on the property. (Anyone can be entered to win)
If you would like to sponsor this Derby and get your logo on our poster and on all our marketing collateral, please contact us at MadRiverSteelheadDerby@gmail.com to inquire.
Part of the proceeds from this event will go toward helping the Mad River Steelhead Stewards Volunteer Angler Group who are helping CDFW and the Mad River Hatchery on a steelhead broodstock program for the Mad River.
Frequently Asked Questions: NCGASA North Coast Rep, Kenny Priest at seven-o-seven 496-8671. For weekly fishing reports, contact Fishing the North Coast, click here. For the CDFW River Low Flow hotline, call 707-822-3164 to see if the Mad River is Open or Closed.
