Fishing derby fun

Brad Everett
Times Contributor

 

With the school year coming to an enThe wet weather didn’t stop 63 anglers from taking part in Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association’s 17th annual Fishing Derby at Kinsmen Park on July 25.
Open to children under 18 and adults over 65, a total of 58 fish were caught and released between the 60 kids and three seniors during the derby that ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For the $1 entry fee, participants were given a fishing rod and reel, courtesy of the Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association, to use for the day and hopefully for many more to come.
“We want to promote youth and seniors, getting outdoors,” said Al Koltusky, chair of the fishing derby. “Some have never experienced fishing and this may well be their first time out – but we hope it won’t be their last.”
A $500 grant from the Town of Strathmore helped Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association with the cost of the fishing derby, which is just one of several events they support with funds from their annual Wild Game Dinner and Auction held on the first Saturday of March.
“In addition to the fishing derby, we have junior shooting and archery, trap shooting, hunter training, and a pheasant release program where we will be releasing 600 birds this year in Wheatland County,” said Cheryl Koltusky, treasurer for the group.
No one went away empty handed, as there was a selection of fishing lures to pick from for those who didn’t win in one of the categories.
The winners in Saturday’s fishing derby were as follows:
Most Fish Caught: Luke Sevick
First Fish Caught – Boy: Bennett Hampson
First Fish Caught – Girl: Peyton Shuman
Most Fish Caught: Dani Patterson
Biggest Fish Caught: Nathan Madden
Smallest Fish Caught: Nathan Madden
Second Biggest Fish Caught: Andrew Mitchell
Youngest Boy Fisher: Tied – Jamie Patterson and Skyden Becks
Youngest Girl Fisher: Kale Elizabeth
Great Sportsmanship: Madie Shuman
Most Experienced Fisherwomen: Rosann Hawryluk and Florence Hoard