Derry derby reels in fishing fun

By Julie Huss
Staff writer

Fri, May 16 2008

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DERRY — Emily Wright approached the table with her slimy catch in hand. The 13-year-old hoped this fish would really measure up to be a winner.

Emily joined many local youth anglers on Saturday morning, May 3, at the annual Derry Lions Club fishing derby at Hood Pond.

The local Lions group has hosted the derby for about 16 years, one of several major community events the club takes on each year to help support its charities, and other causes in the community.

With children scurrying through the sandy beach near the pond to have each fish measured, local Lions members took on the tasks of keeping track of all the young fishermen and also make sure the fish were measured and tallied properly in each category.

"There's bigger ones out there," Lions member Ron Tveter called out to a young fishing enthusiast. "Go get 'em."

For Tveter, it's an annual day of fun and also community service as he helps his club reach out to the town's youth who love to fish. He said the fishing derby began many years ago on the first Saturday in May as a way to give local children a chance to come out and have fun fishing, win prizes for their catch of the day, and also support Lions' charities at the same time like vision charities, and the White Cane sale.

Some young fishermen were carrying on a family tradition as in the case of 10-year-old Chris DePaula, who caught a whole string of fish in his early morning reel action at the derby.

Chris is the nephew of Derry native and Major League pitcher Sean DePaula, who once scoured the sand at Hood Pond and tried his luck with a rod and reel at the fishing derby. Chris said his uncle even won a trophy for his big catch way back when.

Tveter said he hopes more people become aware of all the good work the local Lions Club does in Derry and new members are always welcome to get involved in the group. As it takes people to plan and carry out activities like the annual fishing derby, the club always seeks new blood to join and help out.

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