Forty-one kids ages two to 17 participated in the day and caught over 200 pounds of the invasive fish.
It was also a day to promote Firesmart Canada and the Highlands East fire fighters were there with their trucks, water hoses and tank.
Kids got sit up high in the fire trucks as well as hold the firehoses, spraying them into the lake.
Firesmart provided prizes and giveaways, as well as information on fireproofing cottages and properties.
Sara Gregorini from Trent University’s U-Links (a centre for community research) was also there with a booth promoting lead-free sinkers for fishing. She had free packages of non-lead sinkers for everyone along with information on invasive species.
Trent University had asked for fish samples to test for micro-plastics and Gregorini took three rock bass away to test. Results will be available later in the year.
The overall derby winner with the most weight was Emily Bennett with 21.5 pounds. Second was Julianne Dinh with 21.25 pounds and third was Weston Legge with a haul of 17.75 pounds.
Paudash Lake Marina hosted the event, providing free worm boxes for the derby.
