A family fishing event
hosted by the Optimist Club of Stanley Park.

The photo shows Yuri Collesso with the 20 3/8" smallmouth that earned him the $2,000 first place prize in this year's derby.

On July 4th and 5th, the Optimist Club of StanleyPark (Kitchener) hosted its 23rd annual Grand River Bass Derby. This live-release event, the largest in Ontario, is organized as a family affair to increase awareness of local fishing opportunities and resources. The only fish that may be entered in this derby are smallmouth bass caught in the Grand River. All fish entries are measured, weighed and returned to the Grand River at various times throughout the derby.

This year there were over 700 registered participants including 108 in the Youth and 63 in the Junior categories – up from previous years. With Yuri Collesso taking 1st place in the Open/Adult Diivisin, the biggest fish in the Youth category (ages 9 – 15) was 18 ½” and was caught by Ethan Kreller.

In addition to the prizes and awards for the biggest fish, there were numerous door prizes (over 200 of them for the adults) and all kids got a prize with trophies going to the 4 & 5 year-olds.

    2009 DERBY WINNERS                                2009 YOUTH CATEGORY

1st    Yuri Collesso      20 3/8“                                         1st Ethan Kreller          18 1/2"
 2nd   Peter Frim         19 3/8"                                          2nd Dylan Lapointe     18 5/16"
 3rd   Marlow Bonas   19 3/16"                                         3rd Alex Murrin            18 1/4"
4th   Steve Morris     19 1/8"                                              4th Sam Kreze             18"
 5th   Tony LeBlanc    19 1/32"                                            5th Davis Fleischer       17 7/8"

All registered participants received a prize!