Gone Fishin' -- Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby A Success

It was a brisk morning at the recent Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby, but Pack 23 Cub Scout Ethan Miklautsch was able to bring in a 20-1/4-inch trout, the largest catch of the day.

The scouts, with their friends and siblings, brought their tackle and hooked nightcrawlers to catch a variety of fish in Hillegas Lake. The Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby is an annual event that has been happening at Seton Scout Reservation since 1971, always with the early start time of 6 a.m.

The derby is a catch and release event, so unless participants planned on eating what they caught, they returned their fish alive to the lake after it was measured.

Scouts and their families were lucky that Billy Ingraham of the Sportsman’s Den provided nightcrawlers and additional fishing materials and that the Order of the Arrow cooked up an early pancake breakfast!

Kia Heavey, a longtime Scouting volunteer, celebrated organizing the derby for the past 20 years. Trout Unlimited was present throughout the event offering terrific fly fishing instruction.

In Scouting, fishing is a skill that boys can both enjoy and enhance, as Cub Scouts can earn a Fishing Belt Loop and Boy Scouts can earn a Fishing Merit Badge. While Scouts are learning how to catch fish for sport and food, the Fishing Derby allows them to have a fun experience in the outdoors as well. Greenwich Scouting strives to provide exciting, quality programs such as the Fishing Derby, as well as to encourage Scouts to enjoy Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation whenever possible.

Adventure, leadership, service and learning, especially in the outdoors, have remained essential to the Greenwich Scouting experience since its inception in 1912. Nearly 1,750 local youth participate in programs, such as the Fishing Derby, run by 250 volunteers.

For more information about local Scouting visit www.GreenwichScouting.org.

Contributed photos:
1- At Greenwich Scouting’s recent Fishing Derby, Ethan Miklautsch of Pack 23, won 1st place for catching the longest fish, a 20-1/4” trout, from Hillegas Lake at Seton Scout Reservation.

2- Pack 10 Cub Scouts Doyle and Miguel Orr, with dad D.J. Orr, enjoy a peaceful day of fishing on Lake Hillegas at Seton Scout Reservation.

3- Cub Scout Finn Sergent from Pack 35, casts his fishing rod at the annual Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby.

4- Billy Ingraham, owner of the Sportsman’s Den, was present at the Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby again this year, providing nightcrawlers and other fishing materials.

5- Kia Heavey celebrated her 20th year of organizing and running of the Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby at Camp Seton.