Reel Heroes, Real Fun: 5th Annual Veterans Fishing Derby Hits the Water This Saturday!

Get ready to reel in some serious fun and support our heroes at the 5th Annual Veterans Fishing Derby at the stunning Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park this Saturday, February 28!

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez is pumped to keep this awesome tradition going strong, and the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District is rolling out the red carpet: FREE entry to the park and FREE fishing for everyone who shows up! (Non-veterans just pay a quick $5 cash derby fee to join the trout tournament—all that money goes straight to local veterans’ organizations. Talk about a win-win!)

Thanks to the generous folks at Yellow Mart, they're stocking the lake with a whopping 4,000 pounds of fresh trout—get ready for some epic catches! 🎣💦

Here’s the lineup to make your day legendary:

- Gates open bright and early at 5:30 a.m. — beat the crowd and snag a prime spot!

- Derby action runs 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. — last fish measured at 11:30 a.m.

- Prizes awarded at noon — biggest, most, maybe even weirdest catches win big!

This marks the fifth year of this heartfelt event, kicked off in 2021 by Supervisor Perez alongside veteran leaders and the park district. It’s all about getting vets and the whole community together in the beautiful Coachella Valley outdoors, raising funds for veterans’ posts and events, and celebrating our heroes.

“This is our chance to bring everyone out to Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park,” said Supervisor Perez. “With free admission this Saturday, come check out this gorgeous spot—especially with the fresh renovations making it shine even brighter! We’re honored to host this annual tradition that unites the community to cheer on and support our veterans.”

Bonus vibes: The Desert Recreation District is bringing gear so you can shoot some hoops or smash pickleball on the park’s shiny new courts after (or instead of) fishing!

Hosted by an all-star team: Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, American Legion Herman Granados Post 739 in Indio, Supervisor Perez and the Fourth District Veterans Cabinet, plus the Desert Recreation Distric

So grab your rod, your sunscreen, your fishing buddies (and maybe some coffee for that 5:30 a.m. start), and head to Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park at 58075 Jefferson Street, La Quinta, CA 92253.

Come cast a line, have a blast, and help honor the real MVPs—our veterans! See you lakeside this Saturday! 🇺🇸🎣🏆