Woodbury Fire Dept Hosts Children's Fishing Derby May 15th

WOODBURY CT – After last year’s cancellation due to the covid-19 shutdown, the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fishing derby for children aged 13 and under will resume Saturday morning May 15th from 8am to 12 noon. “We’re stocking the pond with about 50 fullsize trout,” says organizer Jason Hatstat who is also a firefighter. “We also will have plenty of prizes donated by local merchants for a free draw. It will all be a great community event to celebrate the reopening of public life.”

Although there is no charge for the event at Kings Pond on Railtree Hill Road, cash donations of any size will be cheerfully accepted to help defray the cost of the trophies, coffee, donuts, and related expenses.

The rain-or-shine event is in honor of two deceased department officers: Former Chief Mel Snyder and former Deputy Chief Lee King. The awards to the children are for the largest catch, usually the one tiger or golden trout among the stocked fish, a good sportstmanship award in honor of the late Darlene Start, a longtime department supporter, and one for the most motivated youngster. “I remember when I was four years old and I caught the biggest fish,” recalls Hatstat. “I know the children will leave after the morning with the same kind of exciting memories.”
Tyler Pennoyer (pictured) caught the largest fish, a 19 and half inch tiger trout, in 2019, the last year the derby was held.###