Jefferson fishing derby a hit

JEFFERSON — Once again, the William G. Clark Fishing Education Pond — across the street from the Jefferson Township High School — was busy with eager children participating in the annual Youth Fishing Derby sponsored by The Fred S. Burroughs North Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Sparta, on Saturday, July 8.
This group of dedicated volunteers has been sponsoring this free contest for about 10 years in conjunction with the Jefferson Arts Committee’s annual Jefferson Township Day event.
Although the JAC modified the celebration this year, and it is now known as Jefferson Fest, Trout Unlimited decided to continue its tradition and bear the entire cost of this event themselves rather than relying on the JAC to absorb the cost of the prizes.
Earlier in the week, the pond was stocked with about 200 blue gills and catfish from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Hackettstown Hatchery.
In past years, they also stocked largemouth bass and pickerels for the event, some of which are still in there. Catch and release was enforced by Trout Unlimited volunteers, who measured and recorded each fish caught during the derby.
Dedicated members including Willi Huber, John Saltzman, Rich Egge, Joe Devenney, Sue Reed, Dean Blumetti, Derek Groff, Bill Francisco, Frank Abrusio, Bill Craig and Stan Tryba were on hand to welcome the 48 children under the age of 15 who participated that afternoon.
Every eligible child who participated took home a fishing lure as a door prize, and bobbers and coloring books were available to all children courtesy of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The children were awarded prizes based on their age category for the most fish caught, the largest fish caught, etc.
Winners of the fishing derby
Overall Winner: Roxanna Wida, Jefferson, age 10, 13" Catfish

Ages 0-6:
1st: Logan Mayol, Lake Hopatcong, age 5, 12" Bass
2nd: April Swanson, Union Twp., age 6, 8" Sunny
3rd: Blake, Lake Hopatcong, age 3, 7 ¼” Bluegill

Ages 7-8:
1st: Jesse Chalmers, Lake Hopatcong, age 8, 13" Large Mouth Bass
2nd: Zach Pomerance, Oak Ridge, age 7, 8" Perch
3rd Giuliana Ramirez, Oak Ridge, age 7, 7.5" Bluegill

Ages 9-10:
1st: Evan Corso, Jefferson, age 10, 12" Catfish
2nd: Justin Reed, Jefferson, age 10, 9.25" Bass

Ages 11-12
1st: Vance Negrotto, Oak Ridge, age 11, 12" Bass
2nd: Kevin Thumser, Jefferson, age 12, 10" Bass
3rd: Brianna McBride, Jefferson, age 11, 8" Catfish

Ages 13-14
1st: Tyler Westhove, Lake Hopatcong, age 13, 7" Bluegill
2nd: Nico Celentano, Jefferson, age 14, 7" Bluegill