Fair weather, fat trout greet Hooked on Kids anglers

BRIDGEPORT – Earlier this year Bridgeport Mayor Janet Conklin went out on a limb and advised the city council that she was going to go ahead with plans to hold the city’s annual Hooked on Kids Fishing Derby even though the COVID pandemic was mandating restrictions on most events and gatherings. As it turned out it was a good call as the state’s vaccination program coupled with declining COVID cases gave the green light to many activities as Washington state moves closer to a 70 percent vaccination rate and a full opening by June 30.
Once again, this year the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife set aside 400 rainbow trout to stock the Marina Park Lagoon to provide the quarry for the popular Hooked on Kids Derby that coincided with Free Fishing Weekend June 12-13. More than a dozen of the trout wore special prize tags to make the quest for a trophy catch even more exciting.
Eager young anglers from ages five to 14 gathered to wet their lines starting at 9 a.m. and to compete for lots of prizes for largest trout, most caught, and other categories. Nobody leaves the Derby without one or more prizes ranging from free fishing gear to bicycles.
Hooked on Kids was started by the late Neil Jacobson a former city councilman who enlisted Bridgeport school students to design a logo for the derby. Today, a carved replica of that design welcomes visitors at the entrance to marina Park.