Reelin’ ‘Em In: Parkersburg Fishing Derby proves effective bait for luring families to city’s parks
Chris Kieper gives his son Brayden Kieper, 9, advice as he waits patiently to catch a fish Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Cousins Caninen Robinson, 6, and Lance Morris, 6, hold up the fish they caught at Southwood Park Saturday during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Aiden Reynolds gets ready to take a hook out of a fish he caught at City Park Saturday during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Jaxon Lockhart proudly holds up a fish he caught Saturday at City Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Jonah Walters, 6, gets help as he strings together two trout he caught Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Brennen Tingler, 12, center, looks on as judges measure a trout he caught Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. Tingler’s fish measured 17 3/8 inches. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Bella Oldaker waits for a bite Saturday at City Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the City Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the City Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the Southwood Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
Chris Kieper gives his son Brayden Kieper, 9, advice as he waits patiently to catch a fish Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Cousins Caninen Robinson, 6, and Lance Morris, 6, hold up the fish they caught at Southwood Park Saturday during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Aiden Reynolds gets ready to take a hook out of a fish he caught at City Park Saturday during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Jaxon Lockhart proudly holds up a fish he caught Saturday at City Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Jonah Walters, 6, gets help as he strings together two trout he caught Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Brennen Tingler, 12, center, looks on as judges measure a trout he caught Saturday at Southwood Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. Tingler’s fish measured 17 3/8 inches. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Bella Oldaker waits for a bite Saturday at City Park during the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the City Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the City Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
The City of Parkersburg provided this aerial shot of the Southwood Park pond during Saturday’s 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- More than 600 kids ages 3 to 14 gathered at City and Southwood parks Saturday morning for the 42nd Annual Parkersburg Fishing Derby.
Chris Kieper said his son Brayden came to last year's event but didn't want to stay long because it was so cold.
"But the weather has been nice this year," Chris Kieper said at Southwood Park. "It's been a great day."
Although Brayden hadn't had a lot of luck so far, Kieper said he knew there were plenty of fish in the pond, having spotted several large trout swimming near his son's bobber.
Kids competed to earn the top three places in their age group for the largest fish caught, as well as a prize for the largest non-trout and landing the one golden trout in each pond. The child who caught the biggest rainbow trout was named the grand champion at each site.
The winners at each park were:
CITY PARK
Ages 3-6:
* First: Braden Stivers, 15 3/4 inches
* Second: Austin Hopkins, 15 3/5 inches
* Third: K. McCloy, 15 1/2 inches
Ages 7-10:
* First: Rylie Lewis, 16 inches
* Second: Lilian Weiford, 15 1/2 inches
* Third: Crew Stephens, 15 1/4 inches
Ages 11-14:
* Lakin Martin, 16 1/2 inches
* Leyla Deberry, 16 1/4 inches
* Colton McCloy, 16 inches
Grand
Champion
* Ryan Blackston (3-6), 16 1/2 inches
Largest non-trout
* Devaughn Day, 25 1/2-inch carp
SOUTHWOOD PARK
Ages 3-6:
* First: Kasan Kidder, 18 5/8 inches
* Second: Lance Morris, 17 5/8 inches
* Third: Abel Smith, 16 1/8 inches
Ages 7-10
* First: Lana Rhodes, 17 3/8 inches
* Second: Chloe Johnson, 16 7/8 inches
* Third: Blaze Buffington, 16 5/8 inches
Ages 11-14
* First: Alexa Keith, 18 3/8 inches
* Second: Brennen Tingler, 17 3/8 inches
* Third: Baylor Balderson, 17 1/4 inches
Grand
Champion
* Lucas Ruppenthal, age 10, 19 3/4 inches
Largest non-trout
* Rose Miller, 5, 9-inch bluegill