"Friend of Youth"
    Log In   

Menu

2009 Bass Derby

Updated Friday February 3, 2012 by Stanley Park.

The photo shows Yuri Collesso with the 20 3/8" smallmouth that earned him the $2,000 first place prize in this year's derby.

A family fishing event hosted by the Optimist Club of Stanley Park.

On July 4th and 5th, the Optimist Club of StanleyPark (Kitchener) hosted its 23rd annual Grand River Bass Derby. This live-release event, the largest in Ontario, is organized as a family affair to increase awareness of local fishing opportunities and resources. The only fish that may be entered in this derby are smallmouth bass caught in the Grand River. All fish entries are measured, weighed and returned to the Grand River at various times throughout the derby.

  This year there were over 700 registered participants including 108 in the Youth and 63 in the Junior categories – up from previous years. The winning fish was caught by Yuri Collesso and measured 20 3/8” in length earning him a $2,000 cash prize.   The biggest fish in the Youth category (ages 9 – 15) was 18 ½” and was caught by Ethan Kreller.

 

2009 DERBY WINNERS

 2009 YOUTH CATEGORY
1st   Yuri Collesso    20 3/8“ 1st     Ethan Kreller     18 1/2"
2nd   Peter Frim       19 3/8" 2nd    Dylan Lapointe   18 5/16"
3rd    Marlow Bonas   19 3/16" 3rd     Alex Murrin     18 1/4"
4th   Steve Morris    19 1/8" 4th     Sam Kreze      18"
5th   Tony LeBlanc    19 1/32" 5th      Davis Fleischer   17 7/8"

 

 In addition to the prizes and awards for the biggest fish, there were numerous door prizes (over 200 of them for the adults) and all kids got a prize with trophies going to the 4 & 5 year olds. 

 

Click on a photo in the slideshow to enlarge it and go to a photo album of the 2009 Derby. (Adobe Flash Player is required to view the slideshow)

The drawing for the grand prize, a Pelican fishing boat, was the last item on Sunday afternoon’s closing ceremony at Bingemans and was won by Dennis Wagner.
 
Proceeds from the derby are used to maintain and develop the Stanley Park Optimist Natural Area located along the J.A. Pollock Family Trailway of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail in Kitchener. This 20 acre site, on the west side of the river by highway #7, includes 2 ponds for fish reproduction, a marsh area, parking and a canoe launch as well as walking and biking trails. Future proceeds are committed to maintain and develop this area as a key public access point to the Grand River, fish spawning area and wildlife habitat.

 




COMMENTS
This article has No Comments.
Be the first to add your comments!
Click the "Post a New Comment" button below.
firstname lastname commented Just Now
×
"body"

You must be a member of the League and logged in to post comments. Login here.