by Theresa Taylor Guest Contributor
A Kids Fishing Derby was held in Inlet on Saturday, October 6 in conjunction with the first Adirondack Kids™ Day. Twenty-four kids entered the contest, with many participating in one-on-one casting and catching classes before fishing.
They departed from the channel between Fourth and Fifth Lakes and boated to Fifth Lake where sponsors and volunteers had thoughtfully set up a dock with a tent a few days prior.
Throughout the event, kids could come and go, fishing for as long as they wanted.
The contest was originally scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, but due to the overwhelming amount of enthusiastic youngsters wanting to fish, volunteers stayed around to help until after 2 p.m.!
Dreary weather did not stop the contestants from reeling in quite a variety of fish.
Shannon Conner won $25 for the largest fish, a 9.75-inch tall fish. Katie Lasher won a girl’s tackle box for her second place finish with a 8.75-inch sunfish. Kaisa Glitz netted herself third place-a “Barbie” pole for future fishing with her 8.25-inch perch.
The boys had a three-way tie for first place. Troy Conner, Preston Trumbauer and Jack Marlowe earned $10 each for their catches and Sawyer Chase got a “Spider Man” pole for catching the most (17) fish, along with $25.
Every contestant received a gift bag with fishing lures, hooks and accessories.
Paul Chambers declared the event will be held next year, so mark your calendar if you have a young one!
Thank you to sponsors: The Inlet Youth Commission, Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks, NYS DEC, French Louie Adirondack Sports, Inlet ACE Hardware, Raquette Lake Fish & Game Club and Burke’s Marina, Inc.
And a big thanks to volunteers Mike Lyford, Aaron Gloo, Joanne and KC Kelly, Beverly Ischia, Jason Pallotta, and Paul Chambers, who made this great derby possible.
