Anglers at the 71st annual Bluffton trout derby will be aiming for “Big Andy,” the number one trout named so in honor of Andy Herrmann, longtime Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club director.

The trout derby will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Buckeye Quarry, Main St., Bluffton. The derby includes more than 200 tagged trout with prizes to be awarded. Additional prizes will be awarded to the person who catches the longest trout and the person catching the first trout limit of four.

Trout number one is worth thousands in cash if caught during derby hours. The jackpot is built up with $5 donations to a 50/50 drawing. If caught on derby day, one half of the cash jackpot goes to the angler who catches number one. The other half goes to the person whose raffle ticket is drawn at the end of the derby.

If number one is not caught during derby hours one half of the jackpot goes to the club for fish stocking and the other half is awarded in a raffle drawing at the end of the derby.

According to club president Tom Augsburger, tickets for the 50/50 (one for $5 or three for $10) and Spring Raffle ($1 each or eight for $5) are now available. 

Raffle tickets also pays out various prizes. Winners need not be present to win during the derby.

Memberships
2015 memberships are available at $30 per year for age 14 and up, and $10 per year for age 13 and under. Memberships are available at: Family True Value Hardware, Riley Creek Mercantile, Kibbees Carryout, Bluffton, and Ted's Market, Pandora.

New Bluffton Sportsmen Club hats cost $15 each.

A chicken barbecue will be held on derby Sunday at the Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club depot on Spring Street from 11 a.m. until sold out. Tickets are $7.50 each. The barbecue includes one-half chicken with green beans, potato sales and roll.

2015 Officers and Directors
President - Tom Augsburger,   
Vice President - Jerry Edinger
Treasurer - Ron Schumtz  
Secretary - Andy Herrmann
Directors:  Roger Huffman, Dennis Kagy, Mark Zimmerman, Lucas Herrmann,  Ron Neidemire, Marvin Maag, Wilbur Bracy, Tony Pinks,  ike Zimmerman and Dale Neidemire.