Early this coming Saturday morning there’ll be lots of fishermen descending on the Farmington River, all with the same goal in mind: to catch the $5,000 trout! That’s right, the top prize in the 5th Annual New Hartford Fishing Derby is a specially-tagged trout which, if caught, will net the lucky angler a $5,000 prize. And there are other cash prizes, including a $300 prize for the heaviest fish caught that day, David Childs, the organizer of the Fishing Derby said. “And for the children’s contest there’s all kinds of fishing gear: rods and reels and other things too.” David Childs, added.
Registration will begin at 6:00 a.m. at the Fishing Derby booth set up in the parking lot of the Collinsville Antiques store on Main Street (Route 44) in Pine Meadow. The derby ends at 10:00 a.m., when everyone will come back to the Fishing Derby booth with their catches. There is an entry fee of $10 per adult and $5 per child (12 and under). You may pre-register for the derby at UpCountry SportFishing also on Main Street (Route 44) in Pine Meadow and you’ll be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from Upcountry.
Download a copy of the rules for the Fishing Derby: Fishing Derby Rules (134). To see the flyer for this event, please visit the NHPlus Bulletin Board.
So get your tackle together and head over to the New Hartford Fishing Derby this coming Saturday, May 21, where you’ll be guaranteed some great fishing and, with a little luck, you may even come away $5,000 richer!
The New Hartford Fishing Derby is sponsored by the New Hartford Economic Development Commission with additional support from Northwest Community Bank and the Farmington River Anglers Association. Proceeds from the Fishing Derby benefit the Friends of New Hartford, a charitable fund.
Young anglers at a previous New Hartford Fishing Derby. Photo: Maria Moore
