BROOKDALE – The fish were jumping, and so were the kids during the 2018 Fishing Derby at the Pumping Station Road Pond in Brookdale on Saturday.
“There was more fish caught this year than last year,” said Tammy DiMichele, who has been attending the fishing derby for about 30 years.
She also said there were more kids out for this year’s derby.
Tamara Porter, active living co-ordinator with the town of Amherst, said over 150 people came out to fish.
“We had a really good turnout,” said Porter.
Like DiMichele, Ricky Hicks has been attending the derby for about 30 years.
He attributes the good crowd to moving the derby from the Victoria Day long weekend to the weekend after the holiday.
“When you have it on the long weekend there’s always other things people want to do, like go open up the cottage or visit friends and family,” said Hicks.
They both remember when the fish were released on the day of the derby, and wishes they would return to that time.
“To look into the net and see what fish were there, the kids got pumped up,” said Hicks.
“When they let them go they would give half an hour to let the fish spread out, and there wasn’t a line allowed in the water,” he added. “You would wait and there’d be a big PA (public announcement) system and they say, ‘everybody starts now.’”
Fish are now released about two days before the derby, and that draws fishermen to the Pumping Station pond before the derby.
Hicks said about 10 or 15 vehicles were parked near the pond on Friday.
“They let the fish go two days in advance and all the adults come out and they catch all the big ones.”
Hicks and DiMichele think adults should be prevented from fishing the released fish before the derby.
“It’s for the kids,” added DiMichele. “That’s why we have it.”
John Silliker and his son Frasier Holden were at the derby.
“I thought it was great. We had a great time. The people who put it on deserve a pat on the back,” said Silliker. “Everybody had a good time and smiles were on all the kids faces.”
The 2018 Fishing Derby winners include the following:
Largest fish overall: 16.5-inch Fish. Caught by eight-year-old Wyatt Smith.
Largest fish eight and under: 16-inch fish. Caught by four-year-old Rilynn Richards.
Nine-to-12-year-old: 16-inch fish. Tie between 10-year-old Owen Blacklock and 10-year-old Alexis Landry.
13-to-16-year-old: 16-inch fish. Caught by 13-year-old Morgan Sarson.
