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Annual Fishing Derby to take place this weekend

By Michelle Symington

MetroWest Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD On Saturday morning just before 7:30 a.m., hundreds of local children will line the banks of the Upper Reservoir waiting for the announcement that they can cast their lines into the water.

Saturday marks the 20th Annual Fishing Derby in West Springfield during which local children up to the age of 15 gather to have fun fishing and compete for trophies in a variety of categories.

Domenic Longo, Jr., director of the West Springfield Park and Recreation Department, said the Derby has been taking place for over 20 years, but a break in the event occurred for a few years.

He said the Annual Fishing Derby was revived 20 years ago when Richard Shields, owner of Donut Dip, and Richard Sullivan of Sullivan Paper offered to sponsor the Derby.

"It has been popular since day one," Longo said about the revived Derby.

Longo said one of the reasons he revived the Derby was to give children who may not have the opportunity or the means to get to a fishing area the opportunity to enjoy the sport.

"Fishing is a lifetime sport," he said. "You don't need special equipment or abilities and it is not something you have to go far to to."

He said that hundreds of children show up each year to participate in the Derby, with some showing up as early as 4 or 5 a.m. to claim their spot even though the event does not begin until 7:30 a.m.

He explained that the rules, which are also posted all over the Reservoir, are read at 7:20 a.m.

"At 7:30, we do a countdown and give the direction that they can start fishing," he said. "There is so much lead flying around, it looks like the OK Corral Gunfight."

Although there are many participants, no one has been injured during the event.

"No one has gotten hooked yet," Longo said.

He explained that Derby is broken down into different age groups, with three prizes in each category.

The age categories are broken down into children under 5; children under 9; children under 12 and children under 16. The prize categories include: the first trout caught by a boy and a girl as recorded at the judges table; the longest trout caught by a boy and a girl and the shortest trout caught by a boy and a girl, within legal limits.

In addition to the trophy, the winners will receive 20 new $1 bills, donated by the sponsors in recognition of the event's 20 years.

"What happens [just after] 7:30 is you see kids running toward the judges to record their catches hoping they are the first in their age category to catch a trout," Longo said.

The judges for the Derby are volunteers and members of the Park and Recreation Commission.

Each participant will receive a goodie bag filled with fishing items such as hooks and bobbers. Children can also register for a drawing that includes items such as fishing rods, reels and tackle boxes.

Longo said the Annual Fishing Derby is a great and fun event. He added that it can be a family event or there can be children who want to fish by themselves.

"The younger ones may need help but the older ones, they don't need that help, they know how to fish," he said.

Many of the children will begin fishing at 7:30 a.m. and will stay after the derby until it gets dark, according to Longo. He added that some of the children will be back at the reservoir Sunday morning at sunrise to fish.

Longo also said that many of the children will continue to fish all summer.

"The derby is just the kick-off," he said.

All of the participants in the Derby must supply their own fishing poles and bait. Young children may receive help from their parents baiting their hook, casting and untangling the line and netting the fish. All participants can only have one line in the water at a time and must reel in and land the fish themselves.

Although the pond will be stocked with trout, Longo said children may see other fish such as bass or carp.

He added that children who catch fish are asked to bring them home rather than catch and release.

He explained that in the event the fish is not handles properly or was not removed from the hook properly, it could become injured and could result in dead fish floating in the water if they are released back into the pond.

Longo said the trout are edible.

The Annual Fishing Derby will take place April 8 at the Upper Reservoir, which is located at the intersection of Amostown Road, Piper Road and Smyrna Street. The derby is free and open to any child 15 and under.

Beginning at 6 a.m., the West Springfield Youth Sports Association will run a concession stand.

Longo said the Association opens the stand early because "the children who got there at 4 a.m. will be looking for something to eat" and their parents may be looking for something like hot chocolate or coffee to wake themselves up.

All of the proceeds from the concession stand will benefit the city's annual Easter Egg Hunt and special Halloween events.