WHIPPLE — With his fishing pole bent in half and a big catfish flopping on the ground at the end of his line, 5-year-old Sean Pritchett cried out in excitement: “Woo-hoo!”
The boy’s father, Richard Pritchett Jr., 38, of Beverly, tried not to cry out in pain.
“Hey! You can stop reeling now,” he told the boy as he was struggling to get the hook out of the wiggling fish’s mouth.
After finding some pliers, they managed to get the fish off the hook and rush it over to a check station where the fish was measured. It was one of the first of about 200 fish caught Sunday during the annual Washington County Fish and Game Club Fishing Derby.
About 275 children participated in the free event, held at the club’s pond near Whipple.
Sean’s mother, Melayne Pritchett, 35, said the boy caught his first fish at last year’s derby.
“He didn’t even have a worm on his hook,” she said. “He just put his line in and started screaming ‘I got an ‘ish. I got an ‘ish,’” she said. “I didn’t believe him, but sure enough he did.”
Sean said his lucky streak was sure to continue. Still, on Sunday he opted to bait his hooks.
“Worms work best,” he said.
He ended up catching at least three fish during the derby. His two older brothers, Kwinlyn, 8, and Gabriel, 6, also landed a few nice catfish.
“We’ve been out here the past two years and really enjoyed it,” Melayne Pritchett said. “I feel safe being here with the kids and they really seem to have a good time.”
Derby organizer Don Porter said the event is designed to bring families together. Sunday marked Porter’s 50th year helping make the derby a success. The club honored him with a plaque.
“It’s been another good year,” Porter said. “Other than a little bit of wind, I don’t think anyone I talked to had any complaints.”
Porter said he was proud of the work completed last week on a handicapped-accessible fishing area at the pond.
“We wanted to make sure everyone has an opportunity,” Porter said.
The materials were bought by the Marietta Shrine Club and the labor was donated by the Washington County Homebuilders Association, Porter said.
Although not everyone caught a fish, every child still left with a prize, ranging from gift certificates to fishing poles and bicycles.
Dave’s Auto Sales of Marietta and club trustees donated the bikes that were presented as awards.
The club’s first fishing derby, held in 1949, was held in Maryland Pool, The swimming pool, formerly located at the Washington County Fairgrounds adjacent to the Marietta Golf Range, was stocked with 3,000 catfish that year. More than 300 young anglers caught over 1,200 of the fish during the first derby.
According to a Marietta Times account of the event, the 1,772 fish that weren’t caught were later released into area rivers and streams.
In 1955, the fish and game club moved to its current location, off Duck Creek Road, in Whipple.
The club has 115 acres that includes the eight-acre pond.
The fish and game association’s grounds are open to the public during the derby. Afterwards, family memberships are available for $20 per year. About 500 memberships were bought last year. The club offers camping, fishing, hiking, hunting land and shooting ranges.
Memberships are available by contacting any of the club’s trustees. The derby is always held the Sunday after Mother’s Day.
