Glastonbury Youth Wins State Fishing Award

Top angler awards were presented last week to four Connecticut youths — including a Glastonbury boy — during Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s DEEP’s 7th annual Trophy Fish Awards Ceremony.

Each young angler participated in the Fishing Challenge, part of Connecticut’s Youth Fishing Passport program. The Fishing Challenge requires participants to try and catch one of each of 20 common Connecticut game fish. After a successful catch, a digital photo of the angler with the fish is emailed to the DEEP for verification.

The 2014 winners included Nicholas Bourdoulous of Glastonbury who caught a pumpkinseed, bluegill, chain pickerel, brook trout, yellow perch, largemouth bass, striped bass, bluefish and a fluke.

“Now entering its third year, the youth fishing passport promotes a sense of environmental responsibility, stewardship, and a sense of belonging to the sportsmen community,” DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement. “The Passport, conveniently obtained through DEEP’s online sportsmen licensing system, encourages youth to take an active role in responsible fishing and makes them feel like an adult angler. The Fishing Challenge is an additional incentive for families to discover the rewards of fishing together.”

Nicholas and the three other youth winners received a gift pack of fishing gear, compliments of Pure Fishing and Connecticut Outfitters, and a gift certificate for a free trip and tackle rental on The Black Hawk II, compliments of Black Hawk fishing charters.

Information about the DEEP’s free Youth Fishing Passport — for youths age 15 and younger — can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/YFP is your family’s ticket to great fishing adventures.

Contributed photo: 2014 Youth “Fishing Challenge” Top Angler award winner with Andrea Repko, of Norwalk, the photo contest winner for the cover of the 2014 Connecticut Angler’s Guide.