Rain and an early start time of 6 a.m. did not keep young Scouts from coming out for the annual Greenwich Scouting Fishing Derby. Scouts, with their friends and siblings reeled in fish all morning long for a great competition. Pack 33 Cub Scout, Abraham Milgram caught the largest fish of the day, a 16 ½” largemouth bass. Supported by the 9th District Veteran’s Association of Glenville, bass and trout are stocked each year for the annual event that has been happening at Seton Scout Reservation since 1971. The derby is a catch and release event, so unless participants planned on eating what they caught, they returned their fish alive to the lake after it was measured.
Billy Ingraham, of the Sportsman’s Den in Cos Cob, provided night crawlers, bobbers and fishing gear for the 100 plus attendees this year. Kia Heavey, event chair and long-time volunteer, was kept busy measuring fish and updating the leader board stats, which included carp, sunny, perch, trout and bass. “A little rain and a lot of fun were the perfect ingredients to make this year’s fishing derby a huge success,” said Ray Garrison, the Council’s new District Director. Participants ended the derby with a pancake breakfast offered by the Order of the Arrow.
Fishing on Hillegas Lake is a favorite activity for the groups that visit Camp Seton. While Scouts are learning how to catch fish for sport and food, the Fishing Derby allows them to have a fun experience in the outdoors as well.
