VERGENNES — The Vergennes Junior Fishing Derby will be held Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, in the Vergennes Falls Basin. This year marks the 33rd time the event has come to Vergennes, and it won’t be just about casting a fishing line into Otter Creek. Music, food, seminars and an award ceremony will keep anglers busy over the course of the weekend.
Fishing each day will be held from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. in the basin. The evenings will include a Karaoke Dance Party with DJ Amanda Judith Rock on Friday night and a community street dance with Twist of Fate on Saturday night. Since fishing is hungry work, Mama Dogs food truck we be on hand both days selling their wares, and at 12:30 p.m. both days the Vergennes Lions Club will hold a free barbeque lunch on both sides of the river. Big River Bait and Tackle also will be on hand with all items fishing for sale.
Seminars offered include a session on walleye populations in local waterways and Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s “Let’s Go Fishing” program. Local fishing celebrities Chase Stokes and Tim Eriksen will tell their fish stories in “Chat with Chase” and “Talk With Tim,” held at 2 and 4 p.m. respectively.
An awards ceremony will wrap up the Derby on Sunday, June 24, at 1:30 p.m., at American Legion Post 14, 100 Armory Lane.
The derby is free and open to any kids ages 3-15. Fishing gear is available at the registration tent for anyone who is in need of it. Anyone interested can preregister at anytime by visiting Shear Cuts or downloading and mailing in a registration from the Vergennes Partnership website or Facebook page or at tinyurl.com/y83vzsrg.