Annual kids fishing derby held
The Coshocton County Sportsman’s Club hosted its annual kids fishing derby on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Park.
Bill Mizer president of the sportsman’s club said this was the 33rd year for the event.
“This is just something to get the kids out and away from the computers and electronics and get them fishing,” he said. “It is enjoyable for everybody. Hopefully we would have had better weather, but it is what it is. It looks like the fish are biting pretty good already this morning.”
There were five different age groups, boys and girls 3 to 6 years old, 7 to 12 and 13 to 16 boys and girls and then first, second and third in each place.
“All the donations that we get from local businesses are given away as door prizes,” Mizer said. “We have a prize for the biggest fish in first, second and third place in each age group. Everything else is door prizes in a random drawing. Everyone has the same chance to win. We’re giving away bicycles with one drawing from each age group and we have a fishing pole tackle box combo for the older kids. After that all the names go into a bucket and we draw names for a giveaway of the remaining prizes. Usually, we have about 300 kids but today not that many just because of the weather. It is a good time; we post all the sponsors so that people can see them and hopefully patronize those businesses.”
Ten-year-old Kixx McFarland caught his second fish, a bluegill by 9:30 a.m. His mom Michele said, “This is his first year and he is all excited.”
Jay Tarmen and son Chad brought the grandchildren, Jordan, Avery, Carter and Owen.
“We do it every year,” Jay said. “We have been doing this since my sons were kids. We’ve been doing this for probably 25 years. It’s a lot of fun. It teaches them about the sport of fishing, and I love that. I want them to be able to take care of themselves and know that they can always catch a fish and eat. I enjoy fishing and being outdoors, that includes mushroom hunting and things like that. These guys look forward to it. They were kind of bummed this morning because it was pouring rain, and I didn’t want them to get sick.”
Six-year-old Carter Tarmen caught his first fish, a blue gill and kissed the fish.
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