The Kids’ Fishing Derby is once again coming back to the Evert Pierson Fishing Ponds on May 25th starting at 7am.
Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Ponds, ready for the Kids’ fishing derby 2024
Details
The Derby starts at 7am on Saturday May 25th and is open to all kids 12 and under. Fishing will happen from 7am to 10am.
For those who haven’t attended the derby in years past. It’s open to any kids eligible to fish the ponds (12 and under). You’ll be fishing for Rainbow and Cuttbow Trout stocked in the ponds by both the Boulder Fish and Game Club and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Bait and Rods are available and provided, but you can bring your own as well! Additionally, club members and volunteers will be walking around helping out. There will be prizes for the big fish at the end as well as a give-away with some great prizes. So be sure to stop by the sign-in table when you first arrive to get your give-away ticket. Parking is plentiful in the Boulder Justice Center parking lot which is right next to the ponds.
While catch and release is encouraged, you are more than welcome to take the fish home per CPW regulations. We do recommend using barb-less hooks or hooks with the barbs bent down. It means sometimes the fish will come off easier when reeling them in, but makes it worth while when it comes to pulling the hook out of the fish or (hopefully not) someone who has gotten hooked. If you don’t know how to bend down the barbs, volunteers will be able to help out, so just ask.
How to Fish the Ponds
For those looking to bring their own equipment but don’t know where to start: the recommended setup is a Zebco Rod and Reel combo with Trout Hooks, Swivel Snaps, Bobbers, and Power Bait Worms (the 1” ones that come in a jar). This is a fairly successful outfit that comes in at around $30-$40. An Amazon Wishlist can be found here, however most of this list is available from local stores as well (Amazon just has great photos for reference).
We recommend trout sized hooks (Size 12-16) and putting the hooks at least a foot and a half under the bobber. The ponds are good and deep near the center of the ponds and that’s where the fish like to hang out. Paying close attention to the bobber is always recommended. It usually makes for a more successful time fishing and an easier time removing the hooks. Both ponds hold a good amount of fish, so if you’re not having luck at the one pond, try moving to the other.
Membership Cards
The Boulder Fish and Game Club is able to put on events like this and afford the day to day costs associated with running the fish farm thanks to donations from the community. One of the easiest ways is to buy a membership card. This year the cards are a little different from years past. They’ll be available for a $5 donation at the check-in table (and leading up to the event, use the contact us form if you’d like to purchase one). This year they feature a sticker with the Boulder Fish and Game Club logo. Perfect for the rear hatch of your car or water bottle. As always, we do accept and appreciate larger donations. The “help out” page has more information on how to do so.
Prize Donations
We do our best to make sure the kids get to go home with prizes to help them out fishing through the rest of the summer and beyond. While we try to reach out to local companies as much as possible, we have limited time. If you or someone you know have a company or wish to donate on your own, we’re always open to prize donations. Use the contact us form if you would like to donate. We look for prizes between $10-$15 dollars in value and while open to most prizes, we like if they pertain to fishing.
We pulled all sorts of trash out of the ponds in preparation for the derby. This thing will no longer steal lures at the bottom of the upper pond.
Looking forward to seeing everyone out there!