By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Hudson – The Hudson Park Commission/Division of Recreation and Hudson Oddfellows Lodge #154 have scheduled the ninth annual George Chiasson Memorial Trout Fishing Derby at Tripp’s Pond for Saturday, April 9, from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. As the town celebrates its 150th anniversary, a derby at the pond prompts several decades of memories among residents, noted Recreation Director Steven Santos.
“Parents with memories of participating as kids are now bringing their own kids to the derby,” he said. “Last year, I spoke with a family of three generations: the grandparents, their kids as well as their grandkids. For some families it has become a longtime spring tradition.”
The derby began in the 1960s and ran for a few decades before a couple of hiatuses. It returned for two years thanks to the Recreation Department and Oddfellows, then stopped when the town made plans to dredge the pond. Plans changed and interest in the derby resumed late 2007 for the spring of 2008.
“George Chiasson, who was then a park commissioner and an Oddfellows member, was adamant that we should bring the derby back,” Santos explained. “As we were organizing the event for 2008, he passed away. That’s when it became the George Chiasson Memorial Trout Fishing Derby.”
Santos emceed the memorial derby in its first seven years when he was assistant recreation director. Named recreation director late 2014, he relinquished some of his previous responsibilities last year to other staff members.
“Now, I have the opportunity to talk more with the participants and parents,” he said. “It’s an event where parents can sit back and relax, grab a cup of coffee and hope that their kid catches a fish. It’s as much of a social event as it is a fishing derby, for the kids as well as the parents.”
Prizes are awarded in three age divisions: 6 and under, 7 to 11, and 12 to 16. When the derby returned in 2008, a new prize category was added: first fish caught, which has typically occurred within 15 minutes of the event. That lucky fisher gets $25 cash.
Participants in each age division who catch the biggest fish get a $25 gift card to a local business. Most fish caught, which is determined by the total number of inches, earns a bicycle and helmet. Last year, the biggest fish caught was 14.75 inches; most fish caught measured 77 inches.
“It usually seems to rain, but we had great weather last year,” Santos noted. “We had a nice crowd with over 130 registered.”
The pond will be stocked with about 150 trout, mostly rainbow and some brown. A fish will be tagged and its catcher gets $25 cash.
“If the tagged fish is not caught on the day of the derby, registered participants have an entire year to continue fishing and try to catch it,” Santos said. “The registered participant has up until the derby next year to come back to us with the tag – not the fish – and they can win the prize.”
Santos expressed gratitude to Cabela’s and Walmart for offering discounts on items purchased for prizes and a raffle. Consistent supporters of the derby are Hudson Firefighters Local 1713, Hudson Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 643, Hudson Police Association and Hudson VFW Post 1027. Coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts will be available for purchase, which also funds items.
A $5 registration fee per child can be paid in advance at the Recreation Department in the Town Hall or at the event.
“The fishing derby is a one-day event; however, we encourage people to enjoy the pond and continue fishing throughout the spring,” Santos said. “It’s a nice, little fishing hole.”
For more information, visit hudsonrecreation.recdesk.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/HudsonRecreation.