It’s time for a tagged fish program report, brought to you by Crowley Fish Foundation! The Foundation placed floy tags on ten very healthy trophy trout during its inaugural trout stocking event on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. While fishing for a tagged fish isn’t an idea original to CFF, we love the idea of adding this element of fun to the trout that we put into the water. Here is an update as of two months after the inaugural stocking.
The first tagged fish that was officially caught, and subsequently released, occurred a mere two days after the stocking. The Foundation was thrilled to hear the news that angler Rob Hernandez who was being guided by Sam Vasily caught the first tagged fish ever for CFF. Rob said, “I absolutely love this place. I brought up a good friend to experience the fishing here and fishing with Sam is always the best. It was a total surprise to catch a tagged fish. I’m really stoked about it!” CFF Board Secretary Chris Leonard was glad to report to Rob in the conversation that he won a half-day guided fishing trip with CFF Board President Joe Contaldi. Rob caught the trout tagged number two. It was released back into the lake. Anglers are reminded that they can easily pull the tag off the trout’s fin without causing harm.
Just two days later, local retired trolling guide Don Meier reported to the Foundation that he had caught and released tagged fish number seven in McGee Bay in twenty-two feet of water with a lure suspended at a depth of sixteen feet. Donny stated, “I have the tag, but the beautiful rainbow was released and is still swimming.” Don won a half-day guided fishing trip with Chris Leonard. Chris is gladly tasked with taking Don’s two grandsons fishing on the river for a morning this summer.
Scott Kennedy was the third person to catch a tagged trophy trout. On May 15, Scott caught and released a fish that weighed in at a whopping 4.54 pounds. That’s a big fish! Scott declared, “I am pleased to report that I caught one of your tagged fish. Number five.” Scott was trolling a lure, and caught it just outside the marina heading towards Pelican Point. As his prize for the tagged trophy trout, Crowley Fish Foundation mailed to Scott a fly fishing rod-reel-line combo donated by CFF Board Member Hodges Glass as well as an assortment of one dozen hand-tied lake flies donated by CFF Board Member Ernie Gulley. Scott was thrilled to receive the award, and now he’s geared up to fly fish at Crowley Lake.
May 15 produced yet another tagged trout caught by angler Vince Stolo. Vince was trolling a lure in about twenty-five feet of water just outside the marina. He was up for a five day fishing trip on the lake. “I absolutely love the lake,” he said, “I was literally done for the trip of five days of tough fishing, and the fish was on the reel when I was reeling in the reel to call it for the day. All of a sudden, it jumped a foot-and-a-half out of the water! From forty feet away, I saw the tag on it!” Vince says his heart was racing and he was convinced it would spit the hook before he could get it in the net. But, he managed success. “I usually don’t yell, but when I netted it, I was screaming in excitement ‘Oh my god!!! I got a tagged fish!!!’ and I’m sure people from the shore heard me.” Vince usually releases his catches but decided to keep this one as he thought you need the entire fish to claim the prize. (You don’t. Just the tag.) But, the story gets better. He came to the dock and came across a guide with two anglers who had a tough day of fishing. Vince warmly gifted the catch to the two anglers, and the guide and two recipients of the fish expressed their gratitude. Mr. Stolo has since become a regular monthly donor to the Foundation. “I love what you do,” he says. What did tagged fish number six reward him with? A half-day guided fishing trip with CFF Board Member Jarett Coons.
The last fish reported with a confirmed catch happened at the end of May. Marlene Fong caught tagged fish number three. Marlene’s story is great. She caught it with PowerBait using a single hook. She made her first cast at 7:00 a.m., and had the fish caught twenty minutes later. She fished until 3:00 p.m. that day. The best part of this story is she won several times with that one fish! “We had a family and friends fishing derby of twenty people. I was the first to hook up. I also won the biggest fish at 4.61 pounds!” She got first hook up and biggest fish in her family and friends fishing derby, and she won a half-day guided fishing trip donated by Crowley Lake guide Shon Eastridge.
Rumor has it that a sixth tagged fish was caught and released with the tag still in it. This means there are still five originally tagged fish swimming in the lake, as only five tags have been caught and claimed. Numbers one, four, eight, nine, and ten have yet to be caught and claimed. Perhaps you can be one of the lucky anglers to catch one. All of these five fish are good for a prize if you are lucky enough to catch one.
During this month of July 2026, Crowley Fish Foundation is planning another stocking of hundreds of trout thanks to our generous donors. While the May 2026 stocking event has significance for the Foundation as the inaugural fish stocking, the July 2026 fish stocking event is even more meaningful and important: It’s being done in memory and honor of late Sierra Drifters Guide Chris Basso. One tagged fish will go in the water, labeled in memory and honor of Chris Basso. Whoever catches that fish will be rewarded with a half-day guided trip with Sierra Drifters owner Doug Rodricks. If you catch this tagged fish (or any of the remaining tagged trout from our inaugural stocking) please take clear photos of the tag and reach out to the CFF to claim your prize. The Foundation is warmed by the generous support of Patti Maisner. Patti is the sister of Chris Basso, and she is a big part of making this next special event happen. This stocking is one hundred percent being done in honor and memory of well-loved Crowley Lake fishing guide Chris Basso.
The CFF Team is so glad to see so many happy people catching tagged fish, be it with a fly rod, a trolling rig, or bait fishing gear. We extend “congratulations” to the current five winners, and we encourage everyone to get on the water, and have fun looking for the other tagged fish. Feeling lucky?