Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Brighton Optimist Fishing Derby


This past Saturday, the Brighton Optimist Club's 24th annual free fishing derby for kids was held at the millpond in downtown Brighton. About 280 kids participated. There was a casting contest, face painting, a Lil' Angler booth for young children, demonstrations by Heavener's Canoe (who have a lot of outdoor programs geared towards kids), and of course - fishing.

The largest fish caught was a 27" carp. We usually see largemouth bass in the 17-22 inch range, but this year the biggest bass was only 12.5". We're not sure why, although it was noted that the water level was about 2 ft higher than typical, and the weeds in the millpond were a lot thicker than usual for this time of year.

When the derby ended at 11 am, the kids were treated to pizza and entertainment by a local jump rope team, the Jumpin' All Stars. When they finished their routine, awards were given out, which included trophies and rod & reel rigs.

This was a great event with high participation from Brighton Optimist Club members, and other volunteers. This event costs about $4,500 to put on, and we thank our sponsors and volunteers.

If you're in the area next year, check it out. It was a great time.

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