Event in Devou returns Saturday for 2nd year in a row
COVINGTON, Ky. – Want to see a kid get excited?
Put a fishing pole in their hand and watch their face light up when a fish suddenly tugs on the other end. The surprise, the anticipation and the thrill of reeling in the fish … these emotions all but guarantee a contagious grin that spreads to anyone nearby.
This Saturday, May 27, such excitement will dominate the banks around Prisoners Lake in Devou Park, when the City of Covington’s Parks & Recreation Department holds its annual Fishing Derby for Covington kids ages 5 to 15.
“When it comes to families having fun together, there is nothing like the Fishing Derby,” said Alicia Chappell, Recreational Program Coordinator for Parks & Rec. “It’s one of our oldest and most popular events – and for good reason. Kids love catching fish, and parents love watching their kids catch fish.”
- The event runs from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m., with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. Families can save time by registering ahead of time online at Fishing Derby registration.
- Prisoners Lake is at the corner of Prisoners Lake Drive and Wayne Road in Devou Park. Parking is available around the lake and the park.
- Bring your own poles and tackle, or borrow some from Parks & Rec with an ID. Bait (wax worms and red worms) will be provided. Artificial bait is allowed as well.
- Free hot dogs and drinks will be provided.
- Prizes will be awarded for the longest, shortest, and heaviest fish.
- The lake is stocked several times a year with catfish and rainbow trout by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the lake also contains various species of sunfish.
Volunteers from Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers Inc. will help Parks & Rec staff the event.
The Devou Fishing Derby returned in 2022 after a three-year hiatus because of road construction near the lake and then COVID-19 concerns.
“We’re excited to bring it back,” Chappell said. “It’s especially fun to see kids whose parents and grandparents attended this event when they were little.”
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