By Jerry Wright

Rain splattered my windshield as I drove into Buena Vista for the Labor Day Weekend Fishing Derby. Dark clouds rolled down the eastern flanks of Mt. Princeton.  This did not look like a great start for an end of summer kids’ fishing derby.  Would anyone show?  Would the T.U. volunteers want to drag themselves out on a wet Saturday morning?  

The fish didn’t care if it was raining.

As I arrived at McPhelemy Park, the Optimist Club, true to their namesake, was already flipping pancakes.

As I parked next to the pavilion, the question of willing volunteers was quickly resolved.  Marjie and Bob Gray, sporting rain jackets, greeted me. “Great day for fishin.”  We moved a heavy table, then decided it was time for coffee and pancakes.  The rain continued as more volunteers trickled in

Tenacious volunteers, in rain gear, huddled around a picnic table, rigging fishing rods. Kids’ t-shirts were unboxed, sorted for size, and readied for distribution to the young “derbyists”. Prizes were arranged on the display table, and the registration table was prepped and ready.  Instructions, fish measuring boards and recording cards were given out to volunteers. 

Volunteers tried to remember if T.U. had ever had a fishing derby in the rain. 

Registration opened at 9:00 a.m.  Would anybody come?  At first, a few drops of hardy families, kids wrapped in blankets, rain jackets and ponchos, arrived to register and grab a shirt.

“What was that?” Someone saw blue sky behind Mt. Princeton!  As the raindrops abated, the number of derbyists, carrying their fishing poles, clomping in rainboots, their hopes undaunted by the rain, increased.  Our registration volunteers got busy.  Fifty-four kids signed up in anticipation of catching a fish.  Not bad for a damp Saturday morning. T-shirts were distributed, and free rods, provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and pre-rigged by TU volunteers, were given out to kids who needed a rod. Each of the fishing groups meandered to the lake and selected their prime spot. Hooks were baited, rods were readied, and the kids waited with anticipation for the derby to begin. 

By the time Kevin Madden of CPW sounded the starting horn for the derby to begin, the sun had popped out. Red and white bobbers sailed into the air; most of them hit the water. 

In less than one minute after the starting siren, fish were being caught. This might work out after all.  Our volunteers got busy measuring each fish caught, the fisher person’s name and age, and the time when the fish had been hooked. “Nice fish!” “Great Job!” “Ooh. They’re slimy!” echoed across the lake, our volunteers affirming each young angler.  The derby settled into a rhythm of family laughter, fish splashing, and “Nice fish!”. 

After one hour, Kevin sounded the closing siren. Those 54, now certified anglers, had done their job, landing over 80 trout.  Our register volunteers sorted through the record cards and provided the winning angler names for first fish caught, largest fish caught, the youngest angler to catch a fish, and the angler having traveled the farthest distance to attend the derby.  Prizes from our generous sponsors Cloud City Toy Store and Western Recreation were awarded, and our annual derby was over.  All that was left was the cleanup and pack up.  

Once again, our volunteers stepped up, and the job was completed in no time.  Maybe time to grab a hot dog from the Optimists. 

You may have noticed the word “volunteers” appears 12 times throughout this article.

Our derby is only possible with the help from each Trout Unlimited volunteer.  

Thank you:

• Jim Impara
• Key Krebs
• Keith Krebs
• Susy Lauderdale
• Lynn Schwartz Writsel
• Karen Dils
• Reed Dils
• Pam Simpson
• Henry Klaiman
• Ann Klaiman
• Bob Gray
• Marjie Gray
• Barb Plake
• Billy Hicks
• Jerimy Ward
• Jerry Wright