'Learn to Fish' Fishing Derby
We are excited to announce that our inaugural "Learn to Fish' Fishing Derby is coming to central Connecticut on Saturday, May 22, 2021. The Derby is taking place at Walton Pond, located at Winding Trails in Farmington, Connecticut. This unique, intergenerational event is guaranteed to be a memory-filled morning of fun for everyone involved. Don't miss out!
During our "Learn to Fish" Derby, youth ages 6-12 (who must be accompanied by a parent/guardian) will be partnered with experienced adult anglers. These men and women volunteers will introduce the youth to the sport of fishing and teach them the fundamental fishing skills they will need during the derby.* The intergenerational partnered 'teams' will then fish and compete for prizes.
The morning will begin at 8:30 am with everyone gathering for a socially-distanced, continental breakfast outside of Nature's Porch on Walton Pond at Winding Trails. During breakfast, the youth will be introduced to their older adult mentors and provided with their fishing equipment for the derby.** (Youth are welcome to bring their own fishing pole if they have one.)
As a group, they will learn the basics of fishing including how to 'set' up and cast a fishing rod, bait a hook, reel in a fish, and identify the types of fish they might catch during the derby. By 9:30 am, the partnered teams will have selected and set up their desired on-shore fishing location along Walton Pond. The derby will then begin.
For the next 2 hours, the adult anglers will teach their youth partners how to fish, and assist them as they hopefully catch their first fish, all while competing against the other teams in the derby. All fish caught will be measured, identified, and recorded. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, the smallest fish!, and most fish caught. We will also be awarding a prize to the person who wears the most creative fishing-themed hat!
At 11:30 am, the teams will reconvene under the pavilion for lunch and the awarding of prizes. All youth will go home with a 'special' prize! And each youth will leave the derby having:
- experienced the joy of fishing
- learned new skills and a new 'sport'
- met a new friend, and
- had a whole lot of fun.
**Worms will be provided and are the only permitted bait for the derby.
Registration opens on March 1, 2021.
* Covid-19 screening will take place the morning of the event, masks are required to be worn during the event, and social distancing protocols will be in place during the event to ensure the safety of everyone attending. This includes the child's parent/guardian assisting the child based on mentoring by the youth's older adult partner who will remain 6 feet from the youth at all times.
Please note that we are capping attendance for this derby at 20 youth and 20 adult angler mentors. Pre-registration is required for everyone.
Adult volunteers must send us a completed Volunteer Application and undergo a background check before the event.