1,600 participate in fishing derby

Despite a less-than-stellar week of weather leading up to the annual Kids Fishing Derby, the sun managed to show up just in time.

More than 1,600 children participated in the two-day event as the conditions change from cloudy and rainy with an average of the high 60s earlier in the week to clear skies and temperatures in the high 80s for the weekend.

"The weather turned out beautiful, which was great," said derby secretary Teresa Clark. "We just wanted to thank everyone who came out and supported us. It was a great weekend."

Clark said more than 250 people came out to volunteer. Derby organizers also received a surprise when local hatcheries brought in 150 Tiger trout instead of the five they'd ordered.

"That was a really nice surprise at the last minute," Clark said.

Alyssa Smokey, 8, caught the biggest fish of the derby at 4 pounds, 5 ounces.

Other session winners included Adriana Merend, age 4 (1 pound, 10 ounces); Ricardo Romero, age 11 (4 pounds, 4 ounces); Isabelle Dupont Moore, age 8 (1 pound, 4 ounces); Maddox Beagle, age 3 (1 pound, 13 ounces); Connor More, age 12 (2 pounds, 15 ounces) and Melia Rogers, age 7 (1 pound, 15 ounces).

Claire Penwell won the raffle grand prize quad while Steve Morgan won a set of mountain bikes.

The derby, which is free of charge to its participants, is the largest such event west of the Mississippi.