Kids Fishing Day May 6
Tom McFeron of The Washington County Sportsmen’s Club spoke to the Nashville City Council about this year’s Kid’s Fishing Derby.
By Alex Haglund
Tom McFeron of the Washington County Sportsmen’s Club came before the Nashville City Council at their March 1 meeting and announced the group’s Free Fishing Derby for kids.
This year’s derby will take place on Sunday, May 6, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Mill Ponds at Nashville Memorial Park. This year will be the 45th time this annual derby has been held.
The fishing derby is a popular event. It is open to youth anglers ages 5 through 14 and last year, McFeron told the council they had about 140 registered participants.
The registered participants are only part of the story though. All contestants in the derby must be accompanied by an adult as well, and they can fish too, even if they can’t win a prize. Many of those participants are also accompanied by older or younger brothers or sisters. Even if they’re not officially taking part, many of of them fish as well, and the event ends up being a fun day for the entire family.
The event is sponsored by the Sportsmen’s Club and there are prizes available for the kids who take part in it which are donated by supporters of the event throughout the community.
For those that wish to donate money or an item to help the derby happen, please contact the sportsmen’s club’s contribution coordinator, Bill Boyd, at 424-7988. Donations can also be mailed to the Sportsmen’s Club at:
Washington County Sportsmen’s Club
P.O. Box 146
Nashville, IL 62263
The council approved their yearly donation for the fishing derby as well. A $350 donation went to help stock the Mill Ponds before the event, while the council also approved spending $400 to stock the city reservoir with bass at the same time.
In the time between when the Mill Ponds are stocked and the fishing derby kicks off, “no fishing” signs will be set up and the ponds will be patrolled to make it so the kids fishing in the derby get first crack at the fish stocked there.
