Casting Call: Kids Fishing Derby draws 100-plus youth to Civitan Park in Belpre
More than 100 children participated in the Kids Fishing Derby organized by the Frontier Bassmasters Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Frontier Bassmasters member Abe Collins holds a 4-pound, 14-ounce catfish caught by 7-year-old Tuppers Plains resident Ila Howell that ended up being the biggest fish reeled in for the event. (Photo provided)
Keegan Sacconi, 13, of Lubeck casts his line into the pond at Civitan Park in Belpre during Saturday’s Kids Fishing Derby. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
From left, Jayce, Maddie, mom Katie, Piper, Harper, dad Austin and Liam Sprouse sit beside the pond at Civitan Park in Belpre during the annual Kids Fishing Derby organized Saturday by the Frontier Bassmasters. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Hornbeck helps Belpre resident Eli Jarvis untangle his line during the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Landon Lockhart, left, is congratulated by Frontier Bassmasters President Jerry Burkhart as he receives a $100 check, trophy and fishing pole after winning first place in the 11 and up division at the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday in Belpre’s Civitan Park. (Photo provided)
Easton Hendrix, 6, of Coolville does push-ups during the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
More than 100 children participated in the Kids Fishing Derby organized by the Frontier Bassmasters Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
More than 100 children participated in the Kids Fishing Derby organized by the Frontier Bassmasters Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Frontier Bassmasters member Abe Collins holds a 4-pound, 14-ounce catfish caught by 7-year-old Tuppers Plains resident Ila Howell that ended up being the biggest fish reeled in for the event. (Photo provided)
Keegan Sacconi, 13, of Lubeck casts his line into the pond at Civitan Park in Belpre during Saturday’s Kids Fishing Derby. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
From left, Jayce, Maddie, mom Katie, Piper, Harper, dad Austin and Liam Sprouse sit beside the pond at Civitan Park in Belpre during the annual Kids Fishing Derby organized Saturday by the Frontier Bassmasters. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Hornbeck helps Belpre resident Eli Jarvis untangle his line during the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Landon Lockhart, left, is congratulated by Frontier Bassmasters President Jerry Burkhart as he receives a $100 check, trophy and fishing pole after winning first place in the 11 and up division at the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday in Belpre’s Civitan Park. (Photo provided)
Easton Hendrix, 6, of Coolville does push-ups during the Kids Fishing Derby Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
More than 100 children participated in the Kids Fishing Derby organized by the Frontier Bassmasters Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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BELPRE - More than 100 children gathered at the pond in Belpre's Civitan park for the annual Kids Fishing Derby.
The event is held in conjunction with the Buddy Bass Tournament - which this year drew more than 70 boats - on the first Saturday in August. In years past, that's coincided with the Belpre Homecoming, but that event moved to the second weekend of the month this year, meaning the youngest anglers didn't have to choose between casting a line or watching the Homecoming parade.
"It worked out better this year," said Jerry Burkhart, president of the Frontier Bassmasters group, which has organized the event for more than 40 years. "You can see how many we've got. I don't have enough camera to take it."
Parkersburg residents Austin and Katie Sprouse brought their five children to the derby, where rain sprinkled occasionally but the clouds kept temperatures relatively cool.
"We just (saw) it on Facebook, and it's just giving the kids something to do," Austin Sprouse said.
The Bassmasters group stocked the pond with $800 worth of donated catfish. Belpre resident Eli Jarvis snagged a 3-pounder in the event's first hour.
"It's fun," he said of fishing. "It keeps you from being bored."
Ila Howell, 7, of Tuppers Plains landed two catfish using chicken livers early on, including a 4-pound, 14-ounce specimen that was the largest of the day.
"It was big, a big fish," said Howell, whose grandfather is a member of the Bassmasters group.
Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were on hand to interact with the youth.
"This is for the kids, so how can you say no?" sheriff's Lt. Kevin Hornbeck said.
That's what motivates the Bassmasters members as well, Burkhart said.
"We love these kids. Wouldn't you (rather) have these kids out here instead of on a phone?" he said.
Burkhart thanked Belpre Mayor Susan Abdella and the city for recent improvements to the pond, which included a renovation funded with a $100,000 state grant in 2024, as well as construction of a new shelter and donations of art pieces, benches and a swing.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.