Trout and turtles and kids, oh my
It was a perfectly wonderful scene. A little girl holding a bullfrog walked into the tent set up for the Martha's Vineyard Rod and Gun Club Kids Trout Derby Saturday morning and plunked the understandably jumpy amphibian down on the measuring table.
Despite its official name, the annual derby is not species-specific. The longest critter qualifies. The frog, its legs extended to full thrust, was duly measured next to a ruler and declared to be ten and one half inches long.
The frog objected, squirmed free and made a hop for freedom. Doyle Bunch, one of the many volunteers seated at the table, quickly corralled the critter and handed it back to eight-year-old Erin DeBettencourt of Oak Bluffs.
Erin took the frog in the white cloth she had used to carry it from Duarte's Pond to the tent. It appeared to be her only concession to any squeamish tendencies.
Janet Messineo of Tisbury, a well-known Island fisherman and taxidermist, suggested the frog might be a prince in disguise. However, the price of discovery was too high for Erin. She passed on a kiss.
Corbin Buchwald, 5, of Vineyard Haven measured in a turtle. Photo by Ralph Stewart
The frog joined a morning lineup that included brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, pickerel, catfish, hornpout, and several turtles.
The trout derby began 35 years ago. It remains a testament to the spirit of the Martha's Vineyard community and the timeless pleasure of watching children catch fish.
As they have for more than three decades, tournament chairman Cooper "Coop" Gilkes and his wife, Lela, the clerk of the works for most everything Cooper is involved in, rose very early in the morning. Young fishermen had already claimed prime spots by the time the couple arrived at the pond off Lambert's Cover Road in West Tisbury in the dark.
"I arrived here at five," said Brian Welch of Oak Bluffs with his son Brendan perched on his shoulders. "I thought it was kind of early. but the place was already packed."
Judging by clusters of fishermen, the hot spot appeared to be near the sluiceway that feeds the pond. But a select fishing spot may not be the only key to success, given the repeated success of the O'Brien girls of Oak Bluffs.
Hunter Wolff, age 13, and Katherine O'Brien, 6, claimed the grand overall trophies. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Bill and Chris O'Brien said they arrived at 4 am "and all the prime spots were already taken," so they tucked into a spot between the bushes near the tent with daughters Katherine, 6 - 7 this Saturday - and Elizabeth, 9.
"Can I show you my fish," asked Katharine. She told me proudly, "It's 16 and a half inches long, the biggest one I caught." She proceeded to describe every detail of her catch.
By the tent, Christian Noble-Shriver, 6, of Oak Bluffs was very busy filling a white Dixie cup to the brim with squiggling earthworms from a tub provided for bait.
Gary Shriver said his son had caught quite a few catfish but no trout, at least not yet. He said they had arrived a little after 5 am and there were far more people. "Christian wore his clothes to bed so he wouldn't miss getting up to catch fish," said Gary.
No doubt another attraction for many of the kids is the supply of donuts, hot chocolate, and hot dogs the Rod and Gun club provides.
Erin DeBettencourt holds a potential prince.
Inside the tent, club treasurer Cliff Meehan of Edgartown said the club had spent approximately $3,000 on stocking the pond with trout. He said that some very big fish, up to 20 inches, were put in the pond, which did not escape the notice of one of the better anglers up early that morning,
an osprey that had dropped down on a fish but was unable to pull the big trout from the water. "It looked like the osprey was going to get pulled in," said Cliff.
Each year the club relies on donations to stock trout and provide prizes. Peter Herrmann of the VFW had arranged to supply the trophies, and the Wampanoag Tribe had provided prizes and tackle, including new environmentally friendly steel weights, Mr. Meehan said.
More than 235 youngsters participated, said club president Bob Delisle. It was a record number for a derby held on a day with less than perfect weather.
Despite mist and periods of rain, Duarte's Pond provided a perfect backdrop Saturday. The scene was amplified when the sound of unseen honking geese reverberated off the water. A small flock emerged from the fog, made an inspectional flight around the pond, and landed on the calm surface.
Fishermen line the bank at Duarte's Pond. Photos by Ralph Stewart
"The kids are still getting fish," said Coop as he surveyed the scene a little after 7 am. "It's been a real good morning."
When the rain began to fall in earnest after 8 am, Coop sounded the end of the contest. Anxious kids and parents crowded into the tent. "We're still computing the results," said Coop.
"I like how he says he's computing," said a woman standing in the crowd with a chuckle. "His wife's in the truck figuring it out."
Announcements of the winners filled the tent with shrieks of delight. Hunter Wolff, 13, of Oak Bluffs had arrived with a friend who had to leave early. When Coop called Hunter's name he pumped the air in delight.
Brian and Brendan Welch of Oak Bluffs wait for a bite.
As adults and kids left the pond, Hunter asked to borrow a cell phone so he could call his mother. "Mom," he said into the phone, "guess who won the fishing derby and a new bike?"
There was a pause as his mother asked if it was his friend. "Me!" Hunter shouted excitedly into the phone. "On my first cast when I got here, I caught the prize fish."
With just as much enthusiasm, Hunter added, "And I'm going to be in the newspaper, too!"
Trout Derby results
Grand overall winners: Largest trout, Katherine O'Brien, age 6, 16.5-inch trout; largest fish of any species, Hunter Wolff, age 13, 20-inch pickerel.
Ages 4 to 8 category: 1. Cabet Thurber, age 7, 15.75-inch trout; 2. Kyle Peters, age 4, 15.25-inch trout; 3. Zander Amaral, age 6, 15-inch trout.
Ages 9 to 11 category: 1. Brahmin Thurber, age 10, 16-inch trout; 2. Megan Donovan, age 9, 15.75-inch pickerel; 3. Ethan Mendez, age 10, 15.5-inch trout.
Ages 12 to 14 category: 1. Liam Maasri, age 14, 15.50-trout; 2. Will Deitz, age 14, 15-inch trout; 3. Harrison Rodrigues, age 14, 14.50-inch trout.
Hourly lucky fishermen winners: (through 8 years old) Owen Dibiago, Zack Ward, and Gregory Clark; (9 to 11 years old) Douglas De Bettencourt, Justin Alexander, and Ryan Uva; (12 to 14 years old) Troy Canha, Gabe Bergeron, and Hayley Maciel.
