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The trout derby

Casters of all ages cash in on this mountain community tradition

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Donated photo

Donated photo

Donated photo

Springtime is near, and with budding green and showy blooms comes the beginning of derby season. Not the derbies of fleet-footed horses and fancy hats; not the derbies of cars crunching and colliding in fields of smoke and mud, either. We’re talking trout derbies.

These community events are held each year for kids young and old, celebrating the fishing pastime and introducing new generations to the sport. Fish tales, family fun, free gear, and fabulous prizes—like the feisty fish in the ponds, rivers and streams—are in plentiful supply. 

Trout and fishing derbies are typically held on a weekend morning, inviting participants to cast away for a chance to win prizes. Entrants return with the day’s bounty to have their fish measured and recorded, and organizations often award prizes for the largest catches by species and by age range. Doug Besler, mountain region supervisor for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, said more than 50 trout and fishing derby events take place annually in the 32 western counties of North Carolina. Civic-minded citizens or organizations founded many derbies in mountain communities, but state agencies such as the commission now are sponsors of these events to support their role in nurturing young outdoorsmen and women and in the growth of state tourism and recreation industries.

“A kid’s fishing derby is a great opportunity to introduce children to fishing,” according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which aims to expand trout fishing opportunities for children as part of its 2006-2016 trout management plan. The agency plans to continue supporting fishing derbies by providing hatchery-raised trout and by developing new youth fishing events, especially in urban areas. 

Outdoor education and engagement is core to the mission of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Besler noted.

“Fundamentally as an agency, we’re well aware that among most people who are involved in the outdoors, almost always there’s a link to being involved in the outdoors as an adult and as a kid,” he said. “Research shows you need to have kids involved at a young age, and it needs to be a repeat occurrence.” 

The commission is also focused on providing more fishing opportunities for anglers with disabilities. “If you’re a fully able-bodied adult or child, there are lots of opportunities. For people who don’t have those abilities, it’s really a challenge to trout fish,” Besler explained. The commission has constructed piers on ponds and streams throughout the state that are fully compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. And in mid-May each year, the U.S. Forest Service hosts a fishing day for special populations at Boone Fork Pond in Caldwell County, N.C.

Besler said the commission assists derby organizers with fish stocking, loans of rods and reels, staffing, instruction of volunteers, and giveaways for kids, including small tackle boxes, coloring books, bait, and more. Of course, sales of fishing licenses help support Wildlife Resources Commission programs, so “it’s somewhat in our interest to maintain an angling public out there,” Besler acknowledges. But there are plenty of other reasons to keep hooks and flies in the water.

There’s nothing fishy about this tale: when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service commissioned a study of trout fishing in 2006, it calculated a total of $24.6 billion in spending by freshwater anglers, with $4.8 billion spent by trout anglers on food and lodging, transportation, guide fees, equipment rentals, and gear. That $4.8 billion in direct spending produced an overall economic impact of $13.6 billion, as well as $1.8 billion in tax revenue and support for more than 100,000 jobs nationwide, the USFWS study indicated.

The WRC conducted its own study of mountain trout fishing, concluding that North Carolina reeled in $174 million in economic impact from the sport in 2008, supporting nearly 2,000 jobs. The most heavily fished counties were Transylvania, Watauga, Haywood, Cherokee, Henderson, Jackson, and Ashe, the study said. “In addition to the economic contributions trout fishing provides are the intangible benefits of a wholesome outdoor recreational activity that is family-oriented and adds to our quality of life,” said Robert L. Curry, chief of the WRC Division of Inland Fisheries.

One of the most popular trout derbies in the region is the Talking Trees Trout Derby in Cherokee, N.C. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce sponsors the tournament, which is restricted to kids 11 years old and younger. In 2013, more than 2,500 kids participated, and kids received a fishing rod and reel, hat, and T-shirt for signing up. Prizes that year included a camper, ATVs, and much more. In Franklin County, Penn., is what the Chambersburg Noontime Lions Club calls “The Nation’s No. 1 Trout Derby,” with more than one thousand participants, $25,000 in prize money, and $3,500 in raffle prizes. And although children are welcome at the Chamberburg Derby, it is certainly not a kids-only event, says club member John Nogle. 

“We have families that come into town every year to spend time with their local Franklin County family. It’s great to see generations of fishermen and women enjoying our derby,” Nogle said. The derby raises about $20,000 each year for Lions Club projects such as financial support for vision exams, eyeglasses, and other programs for the visually impaired. “Countless hours of preparation are spent by many, many people, all of which are volunteers, and none of them take a penny in compensation,” states Nogle. “In the 17-year history of the event, we have been fortunate enough to have raised $300,000.”

There’s the Jaycees’ Portsmouth Fishing Derby—Ohio’s first and oldest trout derby—held every fourth Saturday in April at Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Park. This year marks the 50th annual. And for the Athens Kids Fishing Derby in Georgia, the amateur anglers hope for a little extra help from Lady Luck: a number of the trout are tagged beforehand, and reeling in a tagged fish can result in a cash prize up to $500.

One of the year’s earliest events is the Blowing Rock Trout Derby in North Carolina, which is always held the first Saturday in April to coincide with the opening of trout season. Kim Rogers’ father and two others started the event 36 years ago.

“Dad [Elmer Jenkins] and Earl [Trexler] were both fisherman, and they loved fishing, and the opening of trout season is a big deal for fishermen,” Rogers explained. “They wanted to do this for kids, but they also were thinking it would be good for tourism.” Turnout was good even in the first few years. “Back then, you registered the fish at the hardware store—it was like a mini-mob scene down there,” said Rogers. Cash prizes go to the angler reeling in the biggest fish of each species in categories for girls and boys, men and women, and “small fry” (11 and under). Kids and derby participants with disabilities can fish at the village’s Broyhill Lake, where a fishing license is not required. Other popular fishing locales include the Watauga and Middle Fork New Rivers and Price, Bass and Trout Lakes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. “Then there’s always those who have secret places—they won’t tell us out loud because they don’t want others finding it,” Rogers said, snickering. 

Though the town of Blowing Rock and local chamber of commerce have lent a helping hand in past years, the derby continues to be a family project for Rogers, who raises money throughout the year to fund the prizes and giveaways. She gets help from other local families, the Watauga Gun Club, Hunters Helping Kids and others.

“It’s always fun. You get to hear lots of fishing stories. People getting together.”

Derby Dates

Trout and fishing derbies for youth and adults take place throughout the year.

Southern Appalachian trout species

Anglers are typically casting for one of these three types of trout in Appalachian mountain streams. Fishing dry flies, streamers, and nymphs that imitate natural food items works well, especially in streams that support wild trout. Fishing baits, such as worms and corn, work well for hatchery-reared brook trout. Spin casting small spinners, spoons, and crankbaits can be productive as well.

Brook Trout

Scientific Name: Salvelinus fontinalis

World Record: 14 lbs., 8 oz., in Nipigon River in Ontario, Canada, July 1916

The brook trout, also known as the speckled trout, is greenish brown, often iridescent, with light red spots on its sides. It has dark, wavy, worm-like lines on the back and white edges on the fins, including the tail. Brook trout are native to the eastern United States and Canada. 

Rainbow and brown trout, two non-native trout species, are thought to outcompete brook trout for habitat and food resources. As a result, wild brook trout are often restricted to small headwater streams. Spawning occurs in the fall. Young brook trout feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects. Adults eat a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as crustaceans, fish and other small vertebrates.

Brown Trout

Scientific Name: Salmo trutta

World Record: 40 lbs., 4 oz., from Little Red River in Arkansas, May 9, 1992

The brown trout is golden brown to olive brown with yellowish sides. Its back and sides have dark spots encircled with light yellow or white. Some brown trout also have orange or red spots on their sides. Native to Europe and western Asia, brown trout were introduced to North America in the late 1800s. Brown trout are often reclusive, hanging out close to underwater structures, such as fallen trees and undercut banks. Larger specimens are often caught near dark and after rainstorms that result in dingy water. They can survive slightly warmer water temperatures than other trout species. Spawning primarily occurs in the fall.

Young brown trout feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects. Adult brown trout usually reach larger sizes than brook or rainbow trout. As a result, they often consume larger food items, such as crayfish, mollusks and fish, including other trout.

Rainbow Trout

Scientific Name: Oncorhyncus mykiss

World Record: 42 lbs., 2 oz., from Bell Island, Alaska, June 22, 1970

The rainbow trout is named for the broad, lateral stripe on its sides, which ranges from pink to red. Its back is olive green, and its belly is whitish with heavy black speckling on all fins and the entire body.

Rainbow trout are native to the Pacific drainages of western North America but have been introduced throughout mountain streams in North Carolina. As with other trout, rainbows inhabit streams, rivers, ponds and lakes with good water quality and temperatures that rarely exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a tendency to hang out in faster currents, such as riffles and swift runs, more so than brook or brown trout. Spawning occurs primarily in late winter.

Young rainbow trout feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects. Adults eat a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, as well as crustaceans, fish and other small vertebrates.

Source: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

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