SW Iowa Times

Youth Fishing Derby at Big Lake Park - August 5, 2023

Registration for the 2023 Youth Fishing Derby opens June 30 and closes on August 2, or when full. Register online by selecting "Special Events" at CB Parks and Recreation CivicRec.

Age Divisions and Fishing Times

Ages 7-9 starts at 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Ages 10-12 starts at 10:45 a.m. - 12:00p.m.

Ages 13-15 starts at 12:30 - 1:45 p.m

Youth Fishing Derby Registration 

• Space is limited 
• Registration is required
• Limit of 50 registrants per session
• Registration Dates: June 30 - August 2, or until full
• $5 Registration fee per angler
• No on-site/ day-of registration

Format / Prizes

• The winner in each division will be decided by the largest fish by length
• The length will be rounded to the nearest ¼ inch
• Tiebreaker will be best two out of three in Rock-Paper-Scissors 
• Top (3) fish in each age division will be awarded prizes
• All species of fish are eligible

Youth Fishing Derby Rules

• Fishing starts and stops when the horn blows.
• Children under age 16 are not required to have a fishing license.
• One parent or guardian must accompany their child at all times during the competition.
• The assistance of young anglers by parents or adults is allowed, however, parents cannot “fish” for their children. Children MUST be actively involved in the catching of all fish.
• Adults are allowed to provide assistance only with baiting, casting, and removing from hook.
• Children must compete within their appropriate age groups.
• We ask that you practice catch and release for the Derby.
• All Trout MUST be released back into the lake.
• Fish must be taken to the judge’s station to be measured for length. Once the length is recorded, the fish must be returned to the lake.
• Registrant can turn in up to (3) fish to be measured. But only (1) fish can be used for prizes.
• Keep fish alive by stringer or in a 5-gallon bucket or cooler of water.
• All fishing must be done from the shore. No wading. The dock is off-limits.
• Each registrant is limited to the use of (1) fishing pole, with the maximum of (2) hooks, (2) trolling spoons, or (2) artificial bait per line.
• Registrants must supply their own bait or lures.
• Both live bait and artificial bait are allowed.
• Do not dump live bait into the lake.
• Live Gizzard Shad CANNOT be used for bait.
• All fish must be caught during hours of competition per each age group.
• Snagging or net fishing is NOT allowed.
• Landing nets are allowed.
• All judges’ decisions will be final. Any argument or disagreement will be immediate grounds for disqualification.
• Please be respectful and courteous to other anglers and give as much room between yourself and others as possible keeping in mind social distancing guidelines. Remember there will be plenty of fish and we are all here to have fun.

Youth Fishing Derby FAQs

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Participants should bring a fishing pole, lures and/or bait, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, lawn chair…. Bring a 5-gallon bucket of water or a cooler to keep fish alive and make transport to the judge’s station easier.

DOES MY CHILD NEED A FISHING LICENSE?

No, children under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license.

HOW WILL A WINNER BE DETERMINED?

Winners in each division will be decided by the largest fish by length. The length will be rounded to the nearest ¼ inch. Tiebreaker will be determined by the best two out of three in Rock/Paper/Scissors. The top (3) fish in each age division will be awarded prizes.

CAN I HELP MY CHILD CATCH A FISH?

No, adults cannot assist in catching fish. You may assist them in baiting the hook, casting, and removing a fish once caught, but children MUST be actively involved in the catching of all fish or they are subject to the judge’s discretion to not measure the fish.

HOW MANY FISH CAN I SUBMIT FOR PRIZES?

Registrants can turn in up to (3) fish to be measured. Their longest fish will be the one used to determine a winner.

CAN WE KEEP THE FISH WE CATCH?

We ask that you please practice catch and release. All trout MUST be released back into the water. 

CAN MY CHILD USE MORE THAN ONE POLE?

No, there will be a (1) pole limit per child to ensure fairness of competition.

WHAT CAN MY CHILD USE FOR BAIT?

Both live and artificial bait can be used. The one exception is that Live Gizzard Shad may NOT be used. There will be a limited amount of complimentary bait available for participants. Please plan accordingly, as we cannot guarantee there will be enough bait available for everyone. 

CAN I DROP MY CHILD OFF WHILE THEY FISH?

We ask that one parent accompany their child at all times during their session.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS INCLEMENT WEATHER?

We have scheduled the rain-out date for the following day, Sunday, August 6. The format and session times will remain the same as the original date.

CAN MY OLDER CHILD COMPETE WITH MY YOUNGER CHILD?

No, children must compete within their appropriate age groups. We will not be able to accommodate multiple ages due to the limited availability of registrants and to ensure fairness of competition. 

Original source can be found here.