7th annual Jasper Youth Trout Derby a success
By RAY LENDERMAN Lakecaster Correspondent

JUNIOR TROUT FISHERS came out in force for the annual Youth Trout Derby held Saturday.

Kids, family, fun & fish, that's what it was about at the 7th annual Texas Parks Wildlife Youth Trout Derby sponsored by the Jasper Evening Lions Club. One could not ask for a more beautiful day, both weather wise, and fishing also. The morning started off quite cool and sunny, with the temperature rising nicely to around the mid 60's, with no wind to speak of. The fish were hungry and ready to bite, and bite they did. With a crowd of 212 young anglers who participated in the tournament, they all caught a lot of trout, along with an assortment of other fish including channel catfish and common carp.

There were families from as far away as Houston and Conroe who brought their kids to fish with their families who live here. Every year the Lions Club comes to the event and cooks hotdogs for the kids and provides drinks. This year they really stepped it up. They went out into the city and collected money for prizes to give away to the kids in random drawings just for coming out to fish. They gave away 8 bikes, and 46 rods and reels , two toy prizes, and two gift certificates. A special thanks goes out to Lions Club Member Mike Ivey who really worked hard helping make this event the success it was. TPWD also gave away 9 rods and reels to the winners of three divisions of anglers in three age classes. The age classes were 7 and under, 8 to 11, and 12 to 16 years of age. A rod and reel was given for the largest trout, smallest trout , and largest other species in the three classes. The winners were:

Newsboy photos/Ray Lenderman

7 and younger:

Largest trout - Bailey Bowers

Smallest trout - Katelyn Marcantel

Largest other fish (catfish) - Justin Booth

8 to 11 years old:

Largest trout - Jonathon Sanders

Smallest trout - Heather Erwin

Largest other fish (carp) - Lance Mays

12 to 16 year group

Largest trout - Dawiela Liscomb

Smallest trout - Brice Calacot

Largest other fish (catfish) - Billy Ray

One of the great things that is happening with the Trout Derby, according to TPWD Inland Fisheries, is that they are seeing more families coming out with the kids and fishing with them. They are seeing not only parents, but also a lot of grandparents with the kids making it more of a family event. There was a total of around 350 people at the Jasper City Park pond fishing. One of the goals that Parks & Wildlife is trying to promote with the Derby is to teach kids not only how to fish but also how fun and easy it is to catch a fish.

Parks & Wildlife stocked the Jasper City pond with 1800 rainbow trout for everyone's catching enjoyment, and the public is encouraged to come out and fish for them. You are allowed to keep five per person per day, and these fish are really great to eat.

A special thank you goes out to everyone who has helped make this event happen every year. It is the businesses of Jasper, and the wonderful people who live here that make this free event such a success for the kids.

TPWD wants to teach the area kids about the wonderful things that are offered in the outdoors here in and around Jasper. We are blessed living just a few miles away from two of the best fishing lakes in the whole U.S. according to several national fishing magazines including BASS Masters magazine, who rates Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend among the top ten bass lakes in America. We not only have Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend in our back yard, but we also have B.A. Steinhagen the Angelina River, Neches River and Boykin Springs just to name a few of the public water bodies that we live close to. We encourage everyone to use and enjoy them. We live here with the resources in our back yard and we need to teach our children to take advantage of enjoying them so they can fish with their kids.

Fishing is something that the whole family can do. It's good clean fun, and can be enjoyed without spending a lot of money. Adult Texas resident fishing licenses cost $28 a year, that comes out to about .07 cents a day, and kids 17 & under do not need a license if fishing in a State Park.

What an opportunity to go out, and enjoy the great sport of fishing, but be sure that the fish that you keep are within the legal limits. Remember kids make good fishing buddies!

Aspecial thanks to all of the sponsors: Academy, Anderson Bait , Brookshire Bros., Lakecaster Publications, Walmart, Jasper Newton Electric, Sabine State Bank, City of Jasper, Gee Shipman Pharmacy, Jasper Newsboy, Gander Mountain, Allison Chevrolet, Jasper Title, Baskins Deptartment Store, Eric Koch D.D.S., Holtons Tackle, Jasper Outboard, Jasper Evening Lions Club and Ann's Tackle.