Winners of the Andover Fish and Game Club’s annual Kids Spring Trout Derby were (front) Arron Judd, longest non-trout; Brooke Edmonds, longest trout; Tyler Carson, second-longest trout; (back) Aidan Proctor, third-longest trout; Jared Frost, total length. Photo: Gordy Ordway

It was a little dreary on May 7 for the Andover Fish and Game Club’s (AF&G) 21st annual Kids Spring Trout Fishing Derby, but 64 kids made it out, armed with their fishing poles. The Derby took place, as usual, along the Highland Lake Channel by the AF&G Clubhouse. Free hot dogs and refreshments were enjoyed by the kids and their families while they fished.

The Channel was stocked the night before with 500 trout, half of which were provided by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The public stocking was attended by an eager crowd of kids and their parents. Each kid, equipped with a bucket of fish, helped Fish and Game Conservation Officer Jonathan Demler release the slippery beasts into the water. Thank you to the New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Thirty fish were reeled in by eager young anglers. After the big event, raffle prizes, lucky prizes, and trophies were awarded to lucky participants. Every kid received a participation ribbon, and more than 30 lucky prizes were awarded.

The trophy winners were as follows: Longest trout at 15 inches to Brooke Edmunds, second longest trout at 12 inches to Tyler Carson, third longest trout at 11 ½ inches to Aidan Proctor, total length of trout at 22 ½ inches to Jared Frost, and longest fish in another category, a 9-inch dace, to Arron Judd.

The Andover Fish and Game Club thanks everyone who donated their time and supplies to make this event a successful and fun learning experience for the kids. The Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the Beef Barbecue and Chinese Auction, will take place on Saturday, August 13, from 5 to 6:30 PM at the Proctor Academy Field House.