By Jerry Wright

The Buena Vista Kids Fishing Derby was held September 5 at McPhelemy Park in Buena Vista. The annual event, a collaboration of Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited, Optimist International Buena Vista, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, was a great success and lots of fun. 

The day began with the Optimists serving hot-off-the-griddle pancakes and sausages with pre-warmed syrup. Yum! Following the Optimists’ breakfast, we registered 58 kids, each with high hopes of fish and prizes.  The kids grabbed their free T-shirt and fishing pole and headed off to find a special spot around the lake. This year, our T-shirts were provided by Souled Out T Shirts of Buena Vista. The fishing poles were provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and pre-rigged by Trout Unlimited volunteers.

Kevin Madler of CPW sounded the starting siren at 10:00 am and the fishing lines sailed out over the water.  Some sailed only two feet while others just dropped on the shore.  With some help, the bobbers all got into the lake. The fish, stocked by CPW a couple of days earlier, were hungry and cooperative. TU volunteers measured and recorded 73 fish landed, with the first fish landed 76 seconds after the starting siren.  After the initial frenzy, the next hour settled down the sound of kids laughing, families talking, and Cottonwood Creek bubbling into the lake interrupted periodically with “I got one”.

The ending siren sounded at 11:00 and the volunteers’ recording sheets were turned in and tallied. A wealth of prizes provided by Western Recreation and Cloud City Toystore were awarded by Kevin Madler and CPCTU President Chris Lamson. A listing of award winners is found in attached articles from the Ark Valley Voice and The Chaffee County Times.

Following the derby, the Optimists switched over from pancakes to a hot dog lunch. These people are amazing, efficient, and great to work with.

As the derby wrapped up, CPCTU volunteers took down banners, packed away supplies and boxed up T-shirts for another year.

Throughout this article the word “volunteers” appears.  That’s not just a word, but people who take time from their holiday weekend to make this event possible for the kids, the future stewards of this beautiful place. Thank you volunteers for putting kids first and letting them just have fun. Thank you Chris Lamson, Kay Krebs, Kieth Krebs, Barbara Plake, Jim Impara, Marjie Gray, Bob Gray, Judy Reese, Suzy Lauderdale, Steve Davis, Karen Dills, Reed Dills, Mark Zinkula, Teresa Zinkula, Colin Eleson (former Derby winner), Pam Simpson, Richard Frey, Steve Silva, and Hadley Madler.

You are awesome!

Click here or press “play” below to watch the recording of the zoom meeting.

Click here or press “play” below to watch the recording of the zoom meeting.