HAMPDEN – “Good casting,” John Christie encouraged his granddaughters, Aurora 10, and Mykelti, 7. Although the girls had been fishing before, it was there first time at the Hampden VFW’s 57th annual Children’s Fishing Derby on May 11. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m, kids, their parents, and grandparents lined the edge of the Scantic River where it runs alongside the VFW Post on Main Street.

“I love fishing,” said Mykelti with a smile.

Darrel Gonyea loaned Mykelti a pole when hers broke and helped the girls out when their lines became crossed. He said he had been coming to the derby for 20 years, first with his kids and now with his granddaughter, five-year-old Melody. She had caught the first fish last year.

Kaitlyn Hebert caught more fish than anyone else, a total of five fish over the two-hour event. One 3-year-old boy caught a 13 ½-inch fish and shrieked in fear when it began flopping around as he posed for a picture.

The children had begun gathering at 9 a.m. to help stock the river with 300 fish that had been kept in a net corral in the river overnight. The VFW had purchased the fish from New Hampshire and provided worms for bait.

The derby was open to kids ages 12 and under and a total of 79 kids signed up to fish. There was no cost to participate, but the VFW said donations from parents were appreciated. After the majority of the fishing was over, the VFW served free hamburgers, hotdogs, and cotton candy to the kids.

Selectman Vinnie Villamaino was on hand to measure the fish that the children caught. There were prizes for the largest fish, the smallest fish, and the first fish caught. Eoghan Garvey caught the first fish of the day. Coincidentally, he also caught the last fish of the day. Emilia Haskins’s 13 ¼-inch fish was the largest caught in the girl’s category, while Ronnie Mitchell caught the largest fish for the boys, at 14 ½ inches.

The award for the smallest fish went to 6-year-old Ellia Amore, who wrestled a 5 ¾-inch fish from the water with the help of her friend, Mylie Mitler, 9. All of the winners won fishing gear and either a medal or a trophy.