Big smiles at the annual fishing contest

It was a warm, sunny day when exactly 100 fish were caught by 33 kids and their families at the 54th Annual Rondout Valley Lions Club Fishing Contest. For over 54 years, the Rondout Valley Lions Club has been sponsoring the event for kids, grades preschool through ninth. And for 35 of those past 54 years, Bill Brooks of Rosendale has organized the event. Brooks loves being a part of the contest for one very special reason. “It’s a chance for a day of interaction between parents and kids,” he explained, “just a day outside with a family and their fishing poles.”

This year’s fishing contest, held on the Sunday afternoon of Sept. 25, had lots of happy boys and girls catching fish of all sizes. The fishing contest was, as it has always been, a free event, held at the Lyonsville Pond, 25 Private Road 13, Accord. The pond is privately owned by the Neidhardt and DeFranco family, who year after year have enjoyed providing the fishing hole for the kids.

Fishing awards were presented in three categories for each of the three age groups. In the Class A division, preschool to third grade, 37 fish were caught, with the largest fish, 20.5 inches, reeled in by Cooper Warren; the smallest fish at 3.75 inches by Maryah Bagley, and the most fish, 14, were brought in by Brooke Martire. In Class B, fourth to sixth grade, 42 fish were caught, with Kaitlyn Decker scoring the largest fish at 20 inches, Gage Davis with the smallest fish, 5.5 inches, and Ryley Albano bringing in the most fish with 11. In Class C, eighth to ninth grade, 21 fish were caught by the five kids in the category, including Jacobe Zimmerman's 16.75 inch fish, Tiana Bagley's smallest fish at 5.5 inches, and Sawyer Basch with the most fish at seven. Brooke Mulkowsky caught the biggest fish of all the participants at 22.5 inches.

Although it was a spectacular day of fishing, Brooks sadly admitted that fewer and fewer families are taking advantage of the day. “Kids have other things going on,” he said. But whether there are 10 or 100 kids who show up to fish, “no matter, it’s always worth it just to see their faces as they catch that first fish.”

For more information or to get involved with the Rondout Valley Lions Club Fishing Contest, contact Brooks at 658-9649.