Updated: ‘I got a big one:’ Farmington Rec Dept holds fishing derby

This story has been updated to include the derby’s award winners.
FARMINGTON – There was plenty of excitement at Abbott Park on the University of Maine at Farmington campus as young fisherkids yanked several good-sized trout from Rollo Pond Saturday morning.

The Farmington Recreation Department had rescheduled its annual fishing derby for children ages 3 to 10 from the Fourth of July after the pond’s water temperature grew too warm for the hundreds of trout that were to be released for the derby. The new Farewell to the 2014 Fishing Season Derby held this morning lasted for one hour.

With most of the 36 fishing spaces filled, the unusually warm morning’s quiet was suddenly broken 2.5 minutes into the derby when Gavyn Perigo pulled the first trout from the pond. Perigo had a little help from the adults standing by, as did most of the young participants.

Perigo danced around the fish after it was released from the hook and placed on the grass. Soon after more fish were hooked, with Karalyn Daggett, 7, quickly following Perigo’s lead with a larger trout.

Paige Dyer, 8, of Strong, let everyone know, “I got a big one,” as she reeled in a 15.5-inch-long trout weighing in at 1.75 pounds.

The 6th Annual Fishing Derby for Adults with Developmental Disabilities was also rescheduled and held on Friday morning.

After the derby, Rollo Pond is open to the public to fish, with a daily bag limit of two trout person so that this temporary recreational opportunity can be enjoyed by local children as long as possible.

Farmington Recreation Department’s Farewell to the 2014 Season Derby results:
1st Trout – Gavyn Perigo – caught 2 minutes and 13 seconds after the start of the derby.
1st Limit – Demitri Hand – caught limit of 2 fish 13 minutes and 2 seconds after the start of the derby
Biggest Meal – Lily Bachelor – total combined weight of two fish 1 pound 2.5 oz.
Trophy Fish – Paige Dyer – largest fish at 1 pound 12 oz.
Snoopy Pole Fishing Derby for Adults!
8 Participants: Winner with largest fish – Will Daggett Jr. – 1 pound 12 oz.