Youth Fishing Derby at Shenipsit Lake Saturday

Come join the fun with the Shenipsit Lake Association (SLA) as they host their last youth fishing derby of the season on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The derby will be held for children ages 3 to 15 from 8 a.m. to noon with two groups will be held for ages 3-8 and 9-15 to allow the little ones to get in on the fun. Free coffee and donuts will be available in the morning, and free pizza will be available after the weigh-in and awarding of trophies aboutnoon.

It is free to participate in the fishing derby. In the state of Connecticut, children under the age of 16 are not required to have fishing licenses. All children should bring their own fishing equipment. Additional details on the fishing derby is available at SLA’s Web site: http://shenipsitlake.org/

The fishing derby is organized by the SLA, and Connecticut Water supports the derby by having the reservoir open to recreation and funding for the recreation program permitted by the state Department of Public Health. In addition, Connecticut Water contributes to the costs of the derbies to support these events.

Shawn LaForest, president of the SLA, stated, “It’s always a great thing to bring young people into the wonderful world of fishing, and there’s no better place to do it than at our beloved lake!”

Fishing and hiking at Shenipsit Lake Reservoir are the result of a cooperative effort between the SLA and Connecticut Water to establish and manage the Shenipsit Lake Recreation Program. Shenipsit Lake Reservoir is a public water supply source that has been opened to fishing and hiking under a DPH permit for more than 20 years.

“We take great measures to protect public drinking water supplies and our watershed areas as part of our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Cindy Gaudino, Connecticut Water’s Source Protection Manager. “At the same time, we are committed to providing the community with recreational activities and access to this treasured natural resource.”

The recreation program includes a year-round hiking trail around the lake in cooperation with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA). Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset from designated shoreline areas and from electric and oar-powered boats from the second Saturday in April through October 31. There is no cost to the public to fish or hike.

Photo courtesy ShenipsitLake.org