Catfish as long as their arms await children ages 4-15 who will participate in the annual Richard H. Fry Memorial Catfish Derby scheduled for Sat., May 11, at Petros Lake Park on Perry Drive SW in Perry Township. The free event is from 8-11 a.m. and honors the memory of the Stark County Park District’s first director.
Every child who participates will receive a bag of tackle donated by Kame’s Sporting Goods.
Trophies and fishing gear will be awarded in three age categories (4-8, 9-12, and 13-15) at 11 a.m. thanks to Stark Parks and the generosity of the 22-member organizations who comprise the Stark County Federation of Conservation Clubs. Participants also will be entered into a drawing to win a rod and reel at the derby and a $250 cash prize at the end of the summer, donated by the Berkley Fishing Team. Each time a child attends one of Stark Parks’ six children’s derbies, they get another opportunity to win the cash.
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The catfish derby was initiated by the late Richard H. Fry to encourage children’s fishing and promote use of Petros Lake Park, which opened in May of 1987. The derby was renamed in his honor in 1995 following his untimely death the previous year. A memorial garden and bronze plaque were dedicated to him in October 1998 at Sippo Lake Park.
For more information on this derby and other Stark County Park District summer events visit www.StarkParks.com.