MONROE, CT — Young anglers lined Great Hollow Lake Saturday as the American Legion hosted its annual Children’s Fishing Derby under a bright, warm sun. The derby brought children of all ages to the lake as parents rushed to get their catches of bluegills, trout, bass and more measured by members of the Third District of the American Legion.
“One of our four pillars in the American Legion is children and youth,” said Post 141 Commander Ernie Foito. “It’s something we host every year to get the kids involved. We like to be in the community as much as possible — and that’s one of the functions of the American Legion.”
Founded by Congress in 1919, after World War I, the American Legion is an organization advocating for veterans and active duty service members, while also mentoring youth and making positive contributions to the communities they serve.
Saturday’s fishing derby was sponsored by Dick Rosenbaum, the American Legion’s Sippin-Winspur Post 176 of Monroe and Posts 12, 16, 86, 141, 177 and 202.
Other sponsors, including Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, North Atlantic Sportsman in Monroe, and other bait and tackle shops, supported the event with prizes and financial donations.
As the airhorn sounded at nine in the morning, children cast their lines, starting the competition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies in different age groups, as well as the trophy for the biggest catch overall. Each participant received a raffle ticket for a chance to win other prizes.
Catches were measured at stations around the lake.
At noon, Post 176 Senior Vice Commander Victor Yanosy sounded an airhorn, signifying the end of the derby.
Winners included Joseph Rierre, 9, with his largest catch measuring at 14 inches, and Finn Prenty’s 13-and-a-half-inch catch.
“When I was little, I won a raffle at my school with all the fishing stuff. That’s what got me into it,” Prenty, 13, said of the sport. “This is my first time ever being here, and it’s fun. It’s my first ever tournament style event, and my friend is here. It’s really nice.”
After all the awards were announced, children cheered as they participated in the raffle, in which winners took home $25 gift cards to local bait and tackle stores, fishing rods and other fishing gear.
“It’s more than [just giving us something to do],” Yanosy said of the Legion’s fishing derby. “We are giving back, and all of us have responsibilities in the organization. We hold it no matter what, because three years ago the forecast was for rain, and the now department commander asked me, ‘Vic, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna cancel?’ And the kids said, ‘No, we want to fish!’ So we held it, and we had good turnout.”
Trophies, a raffle
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