Derby Winners (first row, left to right) Kendra Dziubinski, Alex & Kyle Miller, and Sarah Becker; (second row, left to right) Jaydon Farina, Austin Beaupre, Patrick Coleman. (Photo provided)
SUN CITY – Seventy-five kids, 145 bluegills, 9 bass, 1 crappie, 2 bullheads, 5 catfish, and a whole bunch of moms, dads, and grandparents add up to the annual cross-club Grandma Grandpa & Me and Anglers Fishing Derby at Wildflower Lake.
The event was held this year on July 21, and according to Grandma Grandpa & Me Club Member and Fishing Derby co-organizer Carole Dziubinski, everyone had a terrific time. Carole has organized the event with her husband Ed for the past five years—Carole working from the Grandma Grandpa & Me Club, who supplied snacks and refreshments, and Ed working from the Anglers Club, who supplied the bait and measured the caught fish (which is always on a catch-and-release basis at Wildflower Lake).
Above, from top: Jaydon Farina, Austin Beaupre and Patrick Coleman. (Photo provided)
The two clubs organize this event yearly as way to bring generations (in some cases four, as it was for the Dziubinskis) together for some fun under the sun.
“We like to do things for the kids,” Carole said. “The Fishing Derby is a way for the Anglers and Grandma Grandpa & Me [Clubs] to work together.”
Carole said that her favorite part of the Derby is watching the kids get their fish measured, while she keeps record of the names, measurements, and fish.
“I enjoy seeing the kids come up. To see their smile and how excited they are that they caught a fish. They’re all just great kids,” Carole said. “They [the kids] really enjoy this outing. That’s why [we] do it every year.”
Stats
— Largest Fish caught by Kyle and Alex Miller with a 13 1/2” bass.
— Most fish caught by Sarah Becker, who caught 15.
— Largest bullhead at 9 1/2” caught by Sarah Becker.
— Smallest fish caught by Kendra Dziubinski, with a 3 1/4” bluegill.
— Largest crappie at 9” caught by Patrick Coleman.
— Largest catfish at 23 1/2” caught by Austin Beaupre.
— Largest bluegill at 8” by Jaydon Farina.
