It seems someone forgot to invite the fish to the fourth annual Earlville Conservation Club’s Youth Fishing Derby.
"It’s a great turnout today except that the fish forgot to show up," quipped club secretary Betsy Campbell. "We usually have a lot more kids catching a lot more fish."
The event - held Sept. 6 at Madison Lake in Madison - offered the perfect setting for socially-distanced fishing as the youngsters spaced themselves out along the edge of the water. Most of the participants did land a fish or two, signaling one of the several derby volunteers each time he or she caught a fish to have an official measurement recorded.
Hunter Day, 13, caught the most with nine fish for a total measurement of 46 inches. Wade Tehan, 10, had the largest single fish at 10 inches and caught four fish measuring a total of 29 inches. Peyton Campbell, 7, had the second longest fish at 9 inches, catching two for a total length of 17 inches.
Alyssa Lessels caught four fish for a total of 23 inches. Her little brother Tyler Lessels, 3, caught two fish for 11 inches. Vinny Urben, also 3, caught two fish for 7 total inches. Gabriel Stone, 13, caught three fish for a total of 15 inches. Noah Paccaro, 7, caught two fish for 12 inches; Sam Paccaro, 7, caught a single 6-inch fish; Eric Buell, 10, caught two fish for 13 inches; Paul Barbato, 16, caught a single 8-inch fish; and Elijah Bloodworth, 10, caught two for a total of 8 inches.
Enjoying the quality time on the lake although unable to reel in any fish were Jenna Carberry, 14; Erica Bloodworth, 12; Kinsey Nelson, 7; Garrett Nelson, 6; and Carter Perry, 14.
Club vice-president Don Campbell echoed his wife’s assessment of the absence of fish.
"They have usually been catching 20 to 30 a piece over the last few years," he recalled.
The derby also included a free hot dog lunch for both kids and adults and a prize ceremony that gave out a wide range of fishing gear to every single child who participated.
Pauline Eggers of Liverpool brought out Elijah, Erica and Jenna, who are all from Mattydale near Syracuse. She said she enjoys the chance to take kids like them away from their city lives and out into a country setting.
Jenna said she and her grandfather had fished before but she hadn’t been out in a while. She was enjoying her time that morning at Madison Lake, she said.
Madison Central School senior Cody Day was one of the volunteers helping out measuring the kids’ fish. He said it was a lot of fun to be able to help out with measuring and removing fish from hooks at the event.
Whether they caught a fish or left with only a fish story, the kids and their chaperones had a beautiful morning together out by the waters of Madison Lake. And that’s what the fishing derby was really all about.
"Everybody really seemed to have a good time," said club president Andy Migonis. "It was a good day that was good for the kids."
"We do this to promote kids getting outside to fish and enjoying the outdoors," Betsy explained. "We had a few city kids here today who got an experience they might not otherwise had been able to find. This is all about just getting out there and having fun with your family whether the child catches anything or not."
The Link LonkSeptember 12, 2020 at 03:20AM
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Madison Lake fishing derby all about getting outdoors - Utica Observer Dispatch
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