LEARNING LIFE SKILLS at the Optimist Club Fishing Derby

Mia Lenger caught the biggest fish of the day at 8.25 inches

By: Ernie Wren
The Ashland Optimist Club held its 22nd annual fishing clinic on Saturday, June 22nd at Ashland City Park. 24 participants learned to fish and spent quality time with family and friends. Many fish were caught, and a few turtles as well.

Luke Hall caught 11 fish and received a prize for the most catches of the day

In 2002, when I was president of the Optimist Club, I pushed to bring back the fishing derby/course as it had been held in years past. We worked with the Missouri Department of Conservation and staff member Brian Canaday to put it together. The event has become an annual tradition ever since.

While the local Optimist Club provides the volunteers and prizes, the Department of Conservation provides the fishing rods, worms and fishing lessons. Department staff have helped at several points to clean and stock the town pond, providing the community with a good fishing spot.

Fox Graf caught nine fish at the Derby and took second place

Many of the courses offered free by the agency cover basic equipment, gear knowledge, fish handling and more. For more information and to register for courses, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/discover-nature-fishing.

Luke Hall and Keke Hill bring their fish to the derby organizers to have them counted and measured

According to the department’s website, fish are important to Missouri for the following reasons:

• In Missouri, fishing is a $400 million+ industry, including fishing tackle, permits, bait, guides, boats, boat rentals, food, lodging and transportation. This activity draws many non-fishermen into the outdoors, too!
• Fish play an important role in the food chain. Plants or aquatic invertebrates are eaten by small fish, which in turn are eaten by larger ones. Many species – raccoons, herons, snakes and humans – eat fish.
• Fish serve as hosts for the larvae of freshwater mollusks. Without their temporary attachment to the fish, the mollusks could not survive.
• Aquarium keeping is a popular hobby and a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. In Missouri, anyone with a fishing license can keep native, non-huntable species in an aquarium as long as they are caught according to the rules set forth in the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

In addition to the fishing class, the Ashland Optimist Club offers a diverse selection of activities throughout southern Boone as it owns and operates the community swimming pool, helps host the annual Cattlemen’s Day Rodeo in August, and organizes programs such as youth sports, essay/speech contests, respect for the law, and more.

The club is open and open to the public. If you or a family member is interested in becoming a Friend of Youth, you can email Ernie Wren, Membership Chair, at [email protected].