Kids reel in prizes at Colchester fishing derby
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By ELEANOR BALL
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted May 02, 2010 @ 11:46 PM
Colchester, Conn. —
Kelly Ann Kessler, 10, has been fishing at the Colchester Lions Club annual fishing derby for several years. This year she had the thrill of catching the first fish, but she almost lost the honor as she and her dad, Dennis, struggled to get it free. “It swallowed the hook,” Kelly Ann said.
Finally, her mother, Liz, grabbed the fish while Kelly Ann grabbed the pole and they delivered everything to the judge’s table. Kelly Ann had caught a 4-inch sunfish.
Lions Club member Norm Dupuis organized the event, in its 16th year, at the Lions Club fishing Pond on Halls Hill Road. Open to Colchester children, ages 6 through 13, the derby was free and primarily funded by the Lions Club with donations made by Stop & Shop and Dunkin’ Donuts.
“They’re hungry fish,” Dupuis said. “They haven’t been fed for a couple of days.”
Justin Tupper, 10, and his brother, Tyler, 7, also were soon running to the judge’s table. Justin was carrying a huge catfish Tyler had caught. This was their second time at the fishing derby.
“I felt pretty happy,” Tyler said of his conquest, adding that he hoped to catch the biggest fish of the day.
Lions Club member Ernie Boughton was offering advice to Laura Maclay and her son Tristen, 9, as he showed the two how to tie a bobber on the line.
“See, now that’s the way it’s going to sit in the water,” said Boughton as he showed how the bobber keeps the hook afloat.
Kevin Hackbarth, 13, caught the first two trout of the day.
“We’ve been fishing here for a couple of years,” said Kevin, who used a Rough Rider lure to catch his fish. “We found some deeper spots where the fish like to go.”
Savanna Eldridge, 10, and her friend Kayla Wasick, 10, sat on the side of the pond for more than an hour and had not yet brought any fish to shore. But Savanna caught a catfish last year and knew the secret to success: “Patience, have patience,” she said.
Each child entered in the derby received a door prize ticket and a ticket for food from the club’s food trailer. The youths won prizes of poles and tackle boxes for different categories of fish caught. One popular door prize was that of the McDonald’s ad campaign’s “Frankie Fish,” the blue fish mounted on a plaque that sings “Give me back that Filet-O-Fish.”
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By ELEANOR BALL
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted May 02, 2010 @ 11:46 PM
Colchester, Conn. —
Kelly Ann Kessler, 10, has been fishing at the Colchester Lions Club annual fishing derby for several years. This year she had the thrill of catching the first fish, but she almost lost the honor as she and her dad, Dennis, struggled to get it free. “It swallowed the hook,” Kelly Ann said.
Finally, her mother, Liz, grabbed the fish while Kelly Ann grabbed the pole and they delivered everything to the judge’s table. Kelly Ann had caught a 4-inch sunfish.
Lions Club member Norm Dupuis organized the event, in its 16th year, at the Lions Club fishing Pond on Halls Hill Road. Open to Colchester children, ages 6 through 13, the derby was free and primarily funded by the Lions Club with donations made by Stop & Shop and Dunkin’ Donuts.
“They’re hungry fish,” Dupuis said. “They haven’t been fed for a couple of days.”
Justin Tupper, 10, and his brother, Tyler, 7, also were soon running to the judge’s table. Justin was carrying a huge catfish Tyler had caught. This was their second time at the fishing derby.
“I felt pretty happy,” Tyler said of his conquest, adding that he hoped to catch the biggest fish of the day.
Lions Club member Ernie Boughton was offering advice to Laura Maclay and her son Tristen, 9, as he showed the two how to tie a bobber on the line.
“See, now that’s the way it’s going to sit in the water,” said Boughton as he showed how the bobber keeps the hook afloat.
Kevin Hackbarth, 13, caught the first two trout of the day.
“We’ve been fishing here for a couple of years,” said Kevin, who used a Rough Rider lure to catch his fish. “We found some deeper spots where the fish like to go.”
Savanna Eldridge, 10, and her friend Kayla Wasick, 10, sat on the side of the pond for more than an hour and had not yet brought any fish to shore. But Savanna caught a catfish last year and knew the secret to success: “Patience, have patience,” she said.
Each child entered in the derby received a door prize ticket and a ticket for food from the club’s food trailer. The youths won prizes of poles and tackle boxes for different categories of fish caught. One popular door prize was that of the McDonald’s ad campaign’s “Frankie Fish,” the blue fish mounted on a plaque that sings “Give me back that Filet-O-Fish.”
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