Fishermen Compete in the Annual Des Plaines Park District Family Fishing Derby

Over forty fishermen competed for the denizens of the deep in the Des Plaines Park District’s annual Fishing Derby at , Saturday, August 4. The event is co-sponsored by the Izaak Walton league of Des Plaines. Anglers reeled in sunfish, bluegills, and large mouth bass ranging from 3” to 16.5” in the Park’s two retention ponds.

The Fishing Derby is a catch and release event and scoring is based on the honor system. Each fisherman tallies his catch and records the length of the fish on his scorecard. Prizes are awarded in three age categories for the smallest fish, the largest fish, and the most fish caught between 9:00 and 11:00am.

In the five years old and under age group, McKayla Garnett, 5, caught the most fish, a total of 22. Alexis Weiler, 2, caught the smallest fish, a 4” sunfish and Lyric Henry reeled in a 16.5” large mouth bass. The bass dragged Henry’s rod across the lake and was rescued by Joe Gallo of the Izaak Walton League, with the bass still hooked. In the six to eight year old category, Ryan Weiler, 8, caught 38 fish; Makayla Allen caught the largest fish, a 14.5” large mouth bass; and Cassidy Morisco caught the smallest fish, a 3.75” sunfish. In the senior fisherman category, ages nine to twelve, Boyan Djurovic, 12, Des Plaines, caught 95 fish, the most of all the anglers. Evan Laffey, age 11, caught a 15” bass and Kingston Henry, 9, caught the smallest fish, a 3” bluegill.

The Des Plaines Izaak Walton league donated three fishing poles that were awarded to the overall winners: Kingston Henry for the smallest fish, Lyric Henry for the largest fish, and Boyan Djurovic for the most fish caught. The League members were also on hand to answer questions about bait and equipment and provide fishing techniques. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources loaned the Des Plaines Park District fishing poles for the event. These poles will also be available for use at the Friends of the Parks Fishing Derby on September 15, at Lake Park from noon to 3:00pm.

Fishing is free every day in the Prairie Lakes Community Center retention ponds. Call 847-391-5711 for more information. Mountain View Adventure Center is located at 510 East Algonquin Road and is open Monday through Friday, 11:00am-11:00pm, Saturdays, 10:00am-11:00pm, and Sundays, 11:00am to 10:00pm through August 20. Call 847-391-5733 for more information about upcoming events or visit www.DPParks.org.