With July 4^th less than a week away, plans and schedules start to take shape. Maybe it’s the traditional family gathering at a park or the waterfront, or perhaps a last minute decision based on which cookout will have the better dogs and beer. Either way, we’d like to know what’s going on out there and maybe we’ll see you around at the festivities!

Feel free to comment below.

-Guy

If you look at numbers alone, the 27th Annual LCI Father’s Day Fishing Derby was very successful this year, up in revenue with no fee increases and reeling in 5, 261 anglers from 26 states.

But step away from the official statistics, numbers and business dealings, and you will realize that this derby’s success comes in many different shapes and sizes.

It comes in the form of cheers and high fives between buddies when weighing in the leading smallie for the day. You see it when a group of tired and waterlogged anglers huddle into the supplies shop at Hero’s Welcome, raffle tickets in hand and sharing laughs and “ooh’s and ah’s” at the raffle drawing. It is found in the excitement of every dad who, no matter a half pound perch or a sixteen pound catfish, knows he is already a winner because he spent the day with his son or daughter fishing and getting away from everything else that keeps him busy before and after the derby.

While volunteering at the LCI Derby this year, I realized exactly what fishing does outside of winning you a prize or dubbing you with the title of largest fish or the winning team. When you cut through all the hard work and planning done by James Ehlers, Chris Baker and the LCI staff…all the scurrying around from check point to check point by volunteers and sponsors…the countless measurements and registrations performed by the weigh station captains and workers…when all that is over, you see that the true accomplishment of this derby is its ability to take the activity we all do season after season, and use it to promote the sense of community and “celebrate family, friends and fishing”.

Regards,

Guy

Feel free to comment below with your thoughts and experiences with this year’s derby.

To read more about Burlington Boatyard’s experience as volunteers, read Jimmy’s write up in BBY News.

It has been a long process the past few months — and if this is your first visit to Burlington Boatyard, or possibly the first visit to our NEW site — we are very excited about some of the new features and plans we have for you!

Take a look around, share with us your thoughts….

Simply put, we are here to provide you with an outstanding service that can’t be beat!  Our website allows you to take part in the boating community in Vermont, and list and seek out new and used boats throughout the area.  We are growing very quickly, and will be bringing you all the exciting news as things develop!

Thanks again for being part of our vision.