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Date: 3/2/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – The laughter, the family time, the fish! The East Longmeadow Lions are working to bring back the annual Fishing Derby, scheduled for April 16 at Heritage Park. However, the Lions will need the community’s help to make it happen.
The derby will have the same format as it has in prior years, with categories for ages 3 to 5, ages 6 to 8, ages 9 to 11 and ages 12 to 14. The person from each category who catches the biggest fish will win a prize.
Fishing poles will be available to borrow for participants who do not have their own. A small deposit may be required.
Before any of that can happen, however, there is much work to be done. Lion Lloyd Oakes said the Lions need volunteers and are looking for donors to make contributions to the event, including raffle prizes and donations. The Lions are also working on securing business sponsorships. All donations to the Lions Club go toward community events such as the derby and the town Christmas tree, as well as Lions-supported organizations and causes.
“It’s something for the community,” Oakes said of the derby.
The Lions are working with East Longmeadow Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Public Works and the Town Hall to put the event together. Oakes explained that there are regulatory steps and documents to complete for both the town and the state. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) will be contributing some fish to the event, but the pond will be stocked with many more bought by the Lions. The last derby, in 2019, saw the pond stocked with 400 fish. The derby was scrapped for the past two years because the Lions could not gather enough volunteers in the midst of the pandemic.
The Lions are attempting to bring back participants by sending letters to the participants of the last derby. The Lions are attempting to do an online registration this year, though the details have not yet been worked out. Youth from outside East Longmeadow are welcome to register for the event.
While each participant is required to have at least one caregiver with them, Oakes said a lot of families come as a whole and make it a family outing. Oakes said the goal is to have kids enjoying themselves and families spending time together.
“We just hope everyone has a good time and catches a lot of fish,” Oakes said.
More information and volunteering opportunities can be found by emailing ellionsfishingderby@gmail.com.