Post by Woody Williams on Jul 1, 2007 13:30:23 GMT -5
July 4 means fishing derby, too
By Steve Ford
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The phone calls start earlier every year. Sometime in late May, but well before Memorial Day, the caller asked a familiar question: "Is there going to be a Fishing Derby for Kids?"
The answer, of course, was yes. Then the caller was asked if he had his holiday confused — Memorial Day instead of July 4 — and he said he did not, that he just wanted to start planning.
Laughing now, I told him the organizer needed to start planning, too. When he didn't share in the humor, it was clear he didn't understand I was laughing at myself.
Not that the July 4 Fishing Derby for Kids at the Evansville Garvin Park is a joke. It's certainly not to the hundreds of kids, dozens of volunteers and handful of sponsors that have made this an annual event since 1992.
That means Wednesday's Fishing Derby for Kids from 9 to 11 a.m. will be the 17th annual, not bad for a free event that was dropped after the first year by its initial sponsor.
Kids don't understand sponsors and funding. They don't care where the tackle prizes for everyone, the raffle prizes (rods and reels and more) for the lucky, and the soft drinks for all come from, only that they're in hand at the end of the day.
So, in that respect, the Fishing Derby for Kids has remained much the same.
Some people, men and women alike, who first showed up as participants in the early years have showed up with young kids of their own.
Kids who walked away with their share of trophies have returned to work among the many volunteers who show up to measure fish.
Those volunteers are important because of the way we run the show. We measure every fish and return it to the water (unless someone wants to keep it). Then we record its length on an entry card.
Three age groups will have a champion and second-place finisher who get trophies. Winners are determined by total inches of fish. There is also a big fish trophy in each group.
The age groups are 0-5, 6-10 and 11-15. When you're old enough to drive it's time to volunteer. Parents are allowed to help their little ones with conscience as their only guide.
A few have taken advantage of those loose guidelines, but they are in the minority. Just remember, for a trophy to have meaning after the luster fades, it must be earned.
Sign-ups start at 8:30 a.m. at the east end of Garvin Park lake and participants are urged to refrain from fishing until 9. Experience has told us that two hours is plenty.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring a ruler (works best on small fish, most of the catch) and a pen or pencil. Any fish over 10 inches must be measured to the nearest 1/8-inch.
Fishing Derbies in the middle of the week tend to have the biggest crowds, so give yourself time. See you there.
By Steve Ford
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The phone calls start earlier every year. Sometime in late May, but well before Memorial Day, the caller asked a familiar question: "Is there going to be a Fishing Derby for Kids?"
The answer, of course, was yes. Then the caller was asked if he had his holiday confused — Memorial Day instead of July 4 — and he said he did not, that he just wanted to start planning.
Laughing now, I told him the organizer needed to start planning, too. When he didn't share in the humor, it was clear he didn't understand I was laughing at myself.
Not that the July 4 Fishing Derby for Kids at the Evansville Garvin Park is a joke. It's certainly not to the hundreds of kids, dozens of volunteers and handful of sponsors that have made this an annual event since 1992.
That means Wednesday's Fishing Derby for Kids from 9 to 11 a.m. will be the 17th annual, not bad for a free event that was dropped after the first year by its initial sponsor.
Kids don't understand sponsors and funding. They don't care where the tackle prizes for everyone, the raffle prizes (rods and reels and more) for the lucky, and the soft drinks for all come from, only that they're in hand at the end of the day.
So, in that respect, the Fishing Derby for Kids has remained much the same.
Some people, men and women alike, who first showed up as participants in the early years have showed up with young kids of their own.
Kids who walked away with their share of trophies have returned to work among the many volunteers who show up to measure fish.
Those volunteers are important because of the way we run the show. We measure every fish and return it to the water (unless someone wants to keep it). Then we record its length on an entry card.
Three age groups will have a champion and second-place finisher who get trophies. Winners are determined by total inches of fish. There is also a big fish trophy in each group.
The age groups are 0-5, 6-10 and 11-15. When you're old enough to drive it's time to volunteer. Parents are allowed to help their little ones with conscience as their only guide.
A few have taken advantage of those loose guidelines, but they are in the minority. Just remember, for a trophy to have meaning after the luster fades, it must be earned.
Sign-ups start at 8:30 a.m. at the east end of Garvin Park lake and participants are urged to refrain from fishing until 9. Experience has told us that two hours is plenty.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring a ruler (works best on small fish, most of the catch) and a pen or pencil. Any fish over 10 inches must be measured to the nearest 1/8-inch.
Fishing Derbies in the middle of the week tend to have the biggest crowds, so give yourself time. See you there.