Hundreds Of Kids Reel In Fun

At The Annual Fishing Derby

By Steve Bigham

Under sunny skies, more than 300 Newtown residents converged at the Dickinson Park pool last Saturday morning to take part in the annual Children’s Fishing Derby.

The popular event was co-sponsored by the Newtown Fish & Game Club and the Parks & Recreation Department. And though there were hundreds of different lines in the water, there were plenty of fish to go around.

According to Newtown Fish & Game officials, about 200 children registered for the event, while more than 100 mothers and fathers came along to lend a hand.

The Fish & Game Club stocked the pool with fish earlier in the week, unloading more than 250 fish. Among them was an 18-inch trout, which somehow managed to elude the hundreds of hooks seeking to “lure” him in.

Prizes were given out to three winners in three different age categories. In the six-year-old and under category, Brian Mendonca caught the first fish, Tyler Roberts caught the first five, and Brittany Soucar reeled in the biggest fish – a 16-inch trout.

The youngest registered fisherman was 21-month-old Joseph Tether.

In the ages 7, 8, and 9 category, Kelly Keenan brought home the first fish, Stephanie Russo caught the first five fish, and Gregory Mastroiainni reeled in the largest – another 16-inch trout.

Brian Fogelstrom caught the largest fish in the 10, 11 and 12-year old category, while Ted Joseph Lewis reeled in the first fish, and Keven Caruso was first to catch five.

Earlier this week, the Dickinson Park pool was still home to more than 100 trout. Eventually, the water level in the pool will be dropped, and the fish will be netted and dropped into a local stream.

All winners received a rod and reel compliments of Gary Pepe of Newtown Bait & Tackle.