Annual TP&W Jasper Youth Trout Derby a success
By RAY LENDERMAN

THE SHORELINE of Jasper's city park pond was full of youth anglers and their parents as they participated in the 6th annual Youth Trout Derby Saturday, Jan. 13.

For the sixth year in a row the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Division of Jasper held its annual Youth Trout Derby at the Jasper City Park pond.

The park pond was warm and wonderful place to be on Saturday Jan. 13 with over 370 young anglers and their families.

The day started off unusually warm for this time of year. There was a threat of rain that held off giving pretty good weather for this year's event. In years past the weather had a history for being right down cold.

The tournament has always been held in the middle of January with temperatures reaching down into the very low 30's in the past, so with Saturday temps being in the lower 70's coupled with muddy water from previous rains, made for some uncooperative fish.

The Jasper Fish Hatchery stocked the park pond on Jan. 11 with 1,800 rainbow trout. These fish are stocked every year for people to come out and catch for a special thrill and something different and to take home for a meal that is considered a delicacy by many.

YOUNG ANGLERS took center stage Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Jasper city pond for the 6th annual Trout Derby. Kids sought to catch some of the 1,800 rainbow trout that had been stocked in the pond by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Winners were crowned in different age divisions and door prizes were handed out to area anglers who participated in the event.

Texas Parks and Wildlife always furnishes bait and a limited number of poles for the young anglers 16 years and below. Area businesses made donations to the event supplying prizes for the anglers, such as rods and reels, bicycles, games, soccer and basket balls, portable CD players and radios and more.

The anglers are divided into three age groups: seven years and younger, eight-11 years, and 12-16 years old. In each age division, a rod and reel, tackle box loaded with baits were given to each of the following: (a) largest trout, (b) smallest trout, and (c) largest other species.

However, due to the fact that the trout weren't biting well that day, some category moderations were made in some of the age groups as necessary. The rest of the prizes are given away as door prizes in random drawing just for the anglers who came out to fish.

Once again the area businesses donated almost $2,000 worth of prizes to entice kids to want to come out and fish. The idea is to get them here and show them that fishing really can be a fun learning experience, and introduce them to the wonderful world of the outdoors. The payback is to get to watch young anglers catch their first fish. It was also good to see so many there that have participated in the Youth Trout Derby since it first began.

This years tournament winners were

Seven years and younger division:

Biggest trout - Linsey Guthrie

Smallest trout - Cason Penney

Biggest 'other' - (Carp) Joseph Calicott

8-11 years division:

Biggest sunfish: Shawn Hupp

Smallest sunfish: Oscar Cameron

Biggest 'other' - (Bass) Grace Bryer

12-16 year division:

Biggest trout - Michael Knighton

Biggest sunfish - David Kirbow

Biggest 'other' - (Catfish) Billy Ray

Todd Driscoll, biologist for the TP&W Inland Fisheries at Jasper stated that the event has grown over the past six years due to the overwhelming community support.

"The kids seem to really enjoy this tournament. It is great to see all of the families come and spend time together here. I'd like to thank all of the sponsors, volunteers and TP&W personnel for all of their hard work and donations to make this the biggest one of its kind in the state. We expect it to continue to grow."