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.