VALPARAISO — It was hard to tell who had a tastier meal – the fish or the fishermen, at the 2nd annual Fishing Derby to benefit the Don Quijote Scholarship Foundation Sunday.
 
While Carlos Rivero, co-owner of Don Quijote Restaurant in Valparaiso, cooked up hot dogs with onions, peppers and Spanish spices for the derby’s guests, a young fisherman was dishing out his own homemade concoction.
 
Gavin Vogel, 16, shared his “secret catfish bait” with Nathan O’Connor, who promptly caught a 22 inch catfish as a result.
 
“It’s cherry Jello, hot dogs, and garlic,” said Vogel, of Westville. “I saw it on YouTube.”
 
The derby, which raises money for students to travel abroad to study Spanish, hosted nearly 100 people at Rivero’s fishing pond at his rural Valparaiso home.
 
Rivero stocked the pond with 300 fish, including catfish, blue gill, perch, and crappie, but said the day was not so much a fundraiser as an enjoyable family day outside.
 
“There are so many incredible kids catching fish and having fun,” said Rivero, decked out in his white chef’s jacket. “I love seeing kids catch fish. I want them to have an incredible time and make a memory.”
 
Rivero said high school students from Valparaiso, Portage, and Chesterton, as well as college students, are eligible to apply for the foundation’s scholarships, which are awarded through school travel and study programs. Grades and family income are two large determinants of awards – scholarships are given to students who otherwise would not have the funds to participate in a travel study program.
 
“We want to give someone the opportunity to have the most wonderful experience in their life,” said Rivero.
 
Rivero said the students typically give a presentation to board members after their trips abroad.
 
“It’s amazing to hear how much it changed their lives – something they would have never thought possible,” said Rivero.
 
Foundation member Cindy Leland said the group distributed $22,000 among 11 scholarships in 2015, and the group is working on ways to get the word out about the scholarships and the foundation’s fundraisers.
 
She said the derby is “something different than the average fundraiser.”
 
“This was Carlos’s dream – and we go with Carlos,” said Leland, of Valparaiso.
 
Joel and Beth Mehling and their family – Brody, 9, and Elliot, 6 – thought the cause was a good one.
 
“We’ve been fishing all day,” said Beth Mehling. “I knew they’d love this.”
 
Nancy Highwood, of Chesterton, sat in the sun with her daughter, Gwen O’Connor, while O’Connor’s husband, Ken, and son, Evan, 11 fished off a pier.
 
“My kids love fishing,” said Gwen O’Connor, of Jackson Township. “It’s beautiful out here.”
 
Nathan O’Connor threw back a small bass after his success with Vogel’s secret catfish bait.
 
“I guess it’s not so secret anymore,” said Nathan.
 

Kentucky State Parks will participate in National Trails Day on June 4 and free fishing weekend June 4-5, with events across the state to recognize the excellent hiking and fishing opportunities at state parks.
 
The American Hiking Society launched National Trails Day in 1993 to help promote exercise, trail development and the outdoors. It has grown to more than 2,300 events around the country.
 
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will offer free fishing weekend June 4-5, when no license is required to fish Kentucky waters. Kentucky State Parks have outstanding fishing opportunities and some parks will loan out fishing poles and tackle. Anyone 16 years old and older is required to have a fishing license the remainder of the year.
 

Weighmaster John Warnken checks in a drum caught by Todd Blanchard (left) at last year's Terrebonne Sportsman League's 65th Annual Fishing Rodeo in Houma. | Chris Heller/Staff

 In south Louisiana, fishing remains one of the most popular pastimes.
 
From offshore fishing to trying your luck along the banks of the area's many bayous, thousands of fishermen venture out onto the water every day in search of that prized catch.
 
But for many fishermen, summer would not be complete without competing in some of the area's top fishing rodeos. Typically with any summer, there is an abundance of summer fishing rodeos scheduled throughout the area.
 
Interested in participating in a fishing rodeo in the upcoming months?
 
If so, the following is a list of summer and fall fishing rodeos.
 
--Thursday-Saturday. 22nd Annual Houma Oilman's Fishing Invitational at Harbor Light Marina in Cocodrie. For information, call Shannon Elstner at 223-3849 or houmaoilmans.com.
 
--Friday-Sunday. 20th Annual Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419 or Bob Sevin at 985-787-2968 or online at www.speckledtroutrodeo.com.
 
--Saturday-Sept. 5. 22nd Annual Statewide Tournament and Angler's Rodeo (STAR) tournament at various locations throughout the state. For information, visit www.ccastar.com.
 
--June 2-4. New Orleans Electrical Association Fishing Tournament at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500.
 
--June 3-5. Eighth Annual Bubba Dove Fishing Rodeo at Falgout Canal Marina in Theriot. For information, call 872-1636.
 
--June 4. OMSA Annual Cajun Tropic Fishing Rodeo (invitation only) at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--June 8-12. 19th annual Swollfest Fishing Rodeo at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500 or visit online at swollfest.com.
 
--June 10-12. 17th Annual Krewe of Terreanians Fishing Rodeo at Houma Municipal Auditorium. For information, call Paul Chauvin at 985-855-2084.
 
--June 16-18. ABC Rodeo at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500.
 
--June 18. E.D. White Cardinal Classic Open Fishing Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--June 23-24. LA Pipeliners Association Fishing Rodeo at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500.
 
--June 23-25. 32nd Annual Creole Classic Fishing Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419 or online at creoleclassic.com.
 
--June 24-25. Krewe of Houmas Invitational Saltwater Fishing Rodeo at Coco Marina in Cocodrie. For information, call Charlie Pitre at 226-8788.
 
--June 30-July 2. 68th Annual Golden Meadow-Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo at Moran's Marina in Fourchon. For information, call 985-291-4688 or online at www.fourchontarponrodeo.com.
 
--July 7-9. Fourchon Oilman's Association Fishing Rodeo at Moran's Marina in Fourchon. For information, call Moran's Marina at 985-396-2728.
 
--July 9. CASA of Lafourche Parish Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--July 15-16. Louisiana Dental Association Fishing Rodeo at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500.
 
--July 23. South Lafourche High School Cheerleading Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--July 28-30. 2016 Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo at Tarpon Rodeo Pavilion in Grand Isle. For information, call 504-615-0099 or tarponrodeo.org.
 
-- Aug. 5-7. Terrebonne Sportsman League's 66th Annual Fishing Rodeo at East Park Recreation Center in Houma. For information, call Troy Bonvillain at 985-804-7504.
 
--Aug. 6. Mike Bourgeois "Big Daddy" Memorial Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Aug. 11. Rambo Boondoogle Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Aug. 11-13. 13th Annual D. Jeansonne Invitational Boondoggle Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Aug. 11-13. Fifth Annual Pirates of the Gulf Fishing Rodeo to benefit the Blake Terry Memorial Foundation at Moran's Marina in Fourchon. For information, call Moran's Marina at 985-396-2728..
 
--Aug. 12-14. 28th Anuual Krewe of Hercules Festival on the Bayou Annual Redfish Rodeo at the Agricultural Building on the Houma Air Base. For information, call Danny Picou at 637-0156.
 
--Aug. 20. Dufrene Building Materials Fishing Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Aug. 27. Seventh Annual "Ride the Bull" Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Sept. 2-4. 55th Annual Grand Isle Original Redfish Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
--Sept. 23-24. Caminada Redfish Rodeo at Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Sand Dollar Marina at 985-787-2500.
 
--Oct. 1-2. Leeville Fishing Rodeo at Griffin's Marina in Leeville. For information, call Don or Beth Griffin at 985-396-2415 or email at don@griffinsmarina.com.
 
--Oct. 7-8. Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle. For information, call Bridge Side Marina at 985-787-2419.
 
Notice something missing? To get your rodeo listed in the Daily Comet and The Courier contact sports editor Brent St. Germain at 857-2212 or 448-1200 ext. 2212 or brent.st.germain@houmatoday.com.

Two Mississippi State University Bass Club members finished in the top 10 at Lake Guntersville on Saturday in the Fishing League Worldwide College Fishing Southeastern Conference tournament and qualified for the national championship.
 
Kyle Alford of Brandon and Joseph Marty of Starkville took third place with five fish weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces behind Columbus State University's Turner Carlisle and Michael Chambliss with 22 pounds, 11 ounces, and University of North Alabama's Lake Blasingame and Tristan Crowder with 27 pounds, 6 ounces.
 
The top 10 teams out of the field of 167 boats qualified to compete in the FLW College Fishing National Championship which is expected to be held in 2017.
  Pick-A-Partner The 43rd Annual Choctaw Pick-A-Partner bass tournament is scheduled for July 5 at the Goshen Springs Boat Launch on Ross Barnett Reservoir.
 
Entry fees are $150 per boat with an optional $20 lunker fee. Payments should be sent to Steve Gambrell, 995 South Frontage Road, Jackson, Mississippi, 39204. Checks should be payable to Choctaw Bass Club. Entry fees will be accepted until blast off.
 
For questions, call 601-354-0733.
  Bass tournament results CGM Tournaments youth series, Ross Barnett Reservoir, May 21
 
1. John Connor Harrell, Ramey Harrell, 5 fish, 14.63 pounds
 
2. Owen Perkins, Doug Perkins, 5 fish, 12.22 pounds
 
3. Kaden Valentine, Michael Valentine, 5 fish, 11.83 pounds
 
4. Finn Norsworthy, Mike Norsworthy, 5 fish, 10.64 pounds
 
5. Kaden Holloway, Donald Adcock, 5 fish, 9.00 pounds
 
Big bass: John Connor Harrell, Ramey Harrell, 4.21 pounds
 
Media Bass MS River Team Division, Lake Washington, May 21
 
1. Chris Coy, Ruby Vanderford, 5 fish, 21.94 pounds
 
2. Michael Coomes, Ryan Grey, 5 fish, 16.85 pounds
 
3. Jay Pickle, Patrick Pickle, 5 bass, 16.47 pounds
 
4. John Welch, Keith Munn, 5 fish, 16.21 pounds
 
5. Marty Crane, Ricky Dudley, 5 fish, 16.13 pounds
 
Big bass: Chris Coy, Ruby Vanderford, 6.75 pounds
 
Media Bass MS South Team Division, Lake Lincoln, May 21
 
1. Kirk Tisdale, Wayne Sullivan, 5 fish, 15.30 pounds
 
2. Ryan Patterson, Matt Hults, 5 fish, 13.58 pounds
 
3. Jim Sumrall, David Lowery, 5 fish, 12.67 pounds
 
4. Jude Tisdale, Don Adkinson, 5  fish, 10.72 pounds
 
5. Timmy Smith, John Nelson, 1 fish, 7.77 pounds
 
Big bass: Timmy Smith, John Nelson, 7.77 pounds
 
Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom on Twitter.
 

Parents, mark your calendars now!
 
Every year we hear reports of all the great fun kids had at various free fishing events, and every year we hear parents say, "I wish I'd known about that."
 
Every year there are numerous youth fishing events scheduled throughout Tennessee either on or near the June "Free Fishing Day." This year Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 11 when anyone in the state may fish free without a license in Tennessee's public waters. There are several events scheduled specifically for that day, but some events will be held during May and into the summer.
 
In the Chattanooga area event begin on May 28 when the City of Lakesite holds a Fishing Rodeo from 8 am until Noon at 9300 Thrasher Trail, Lakesite, Tenn. For more information contact Dan Maxwell at 423-842-2533 or Dmaxwell@Lakesitetn.gov
 
On June 5 there will be the annual Camp Jordan Kids Fishing Day Camp from 7 am until Noon at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, Tenn. For more information contact TWRA Wildlife Officer Joe McSpadden at 731-697-5240 or Joe.mcspadden@tn.gov. You can also contact Kim Gann at 423-805-3111 or kgann@eastridgetn.gov.
 
One of the longest-running and largest free fishing rodeos in Southeast Tennessee is the annual Chuck Copeland Memorial Kids Fishing Rodeo in Spring City, Tenn. from 7 am until 11 am at Veterans Park. That event attracts hundreds of kids and offers an amazing array of prizes for the youngsters (12 and under only) who attend. For more information contact TWRA's Brandon Ragland at 423-476-1404 or Brandon.Ragland@tn.gov. Or contact Mike Jolley at Mike.Jolley@tn.gov
 
Also on June 11 is the Fall Creek Falls Fishing Derby at Fall Creek Falls State Park from 7 am until 11 am in Spencer, Tenn. For more information contact TWRA Wildlife Officer Kyle Walling at 931-946-3924 or Kyle.Walling@tn.gov.
 
Also on June 11 there will be an event at Grundy Lakes State Park from 7 am until 10:30 am in Tracy City, Tenn. Contact Brandon Sevlog at 615-342-9305 or Brandon.w.sevlog@tn.gov.
 
You can find even more events listed on TWRA's website. Southeast Tennessee is in TWRA's Region 3. Check the events list on a regular basis as events are frequently added or changed.
 

A world champion angler and an engineer who worked on heat shields for Nasa space shuttles say they have made the first fishing rod using graphene.
 
A form of carbon, graphene is many times stronger than steel.
 
It was discovered in 2004 by Sir Andre Geim and Sir Konstantin Novoselov - who were awarded the 2010 Nobel prize in physics for their work on the material.
 
Inverness-based angler Scott Mackenzie has worked with Oxfordshire-based Gary Savage on the rod.
 
Mr Mackenzie is a former world Spey casting champion and a professional ghillie for 20 years, working on the River Ness in the Highlands and the Deveron in Aberdeenshire.
 
Mr Savage is a professor of engineering who has worked with Nasa and also with carmakers Honda and McLaren on designs for Formula One racing cars.
 
He said: "We have taken the best of everything we have learned in Formula One to create the best fly rod ever made."
  'Game changer'

Mr Mackenzie says the rod handles differently because of the graphene

 
Mr Mackenzie said: "We had an incredibly exciting opportunity to take the art of salmon fishing to a whole new level by harnessing graphene in the right way before anyone else.
 
"The rod is a game changer for expert and less-experienced anglers.
 
"It not only flexes deeply at the beginning of a cast but it straightens again powerfully, which gives you distance, and critically it also retains the vital 'feel' that salmon fishers need to adjust their technique and accuracy."
 
The rods cost almost £1,000 to buy.
 
Graphene is a form of carbon that exists as a sheet, one atom thick and arranged into a two-dimensional honeycomb structure.
 
Geim and Novoselov isolated graphene at the University of Manchester.
 

Graphene is a form of carbon