By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Lowe-Volk Park is a vibrant place for wildlife to thrive, and that includes the fish in the pond by the Nature Center and the young people who like to catch them.
The favorite pastime of young and old was on display Saturday at the annual Youth Fishing Derby. From 9 to 11 in the morning, kids ages 5-12 grabbed their fishing poles and headed to Lowe-Volk to enjoy a day of both leisure and competition.
The derby was judged in three age groups with three categories apiece: the biggest fish, the smallest fish, and the most fish. Among the participants and their families the energy was pulsing, and none seemed to embrace the atmosphere more than Daryl Morrison and Alex Griffith, who were fishing in the older age groups of 8-9 and 10-12.
Both were excited to be participating in the festivities.
Griffith commented and said, “Today was fun. I caught a seven-and-a-half-inch fish.”
“I only caught one fish,” Morrison said, “It’s been a cool day because I got to go fishing and I caught only one fish.” Morrison went on to catch the most fish in his age group.
Rob Farson was the man in charge of the derby and, among helping the bustling group around him untangle their lines and thread their baits, said, “It just gives them a chance to get outside with their family and have some fun and hopefully catch some fish and just have a great time. It’s another one of the great programs that the park offers”.
At the end of the day, a multitude of participants took home prizes. In the 5-7 group, Allan Diller caught the biggest fish, Jack Stacklin caught the smallest, and Alaina Tam caught the most. In the 8-9 age group Darby Shawhan caught the biggest, Maverick Ken caught the smallest, and Daryl Morrison caught the most. Finally, in the 10-12 age group, Jack Wright caught the biggest, Cheyenne Green caught the smallest, and Chris Smith caught the most.
For more information about the Crawford Park District’s events, call 419-683-9000 or visit www.crawfordparkdistrict.org.