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Young anglers enjoy sunny skies and muddy puddles

Young anglers enjoy sunny skies and muddy puddles

Cynthia Hawks and Joe Pearsall work together to free some tangled lines from the reeds for young angler Huxley Hawks.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — A rainy weekend gave way to sunny skies for the Amenia Lions Club fishing derby at Vinchiarello Pond Sunday morning, June 8.

A little over 50 kids came out with fishing rods, competing to catch the biggest and most fish.

Jayden Rivera with his first catch of the day.Photo by Nathan Miller

Heavy rain in the days prior left thick mud and big puddles, delighting many toddlers in rain boots and disappointing many parents with wet feet.

Thick weeds in the water proved a deadly enemy to many of the young anglers. Huxley Hawks managed to get snagged really good on a troublesome bunch of reeds, prompting his grandmother, Cynthia, to wade into the pond after his hook and bobber.

Hallie Hawks posing with the modest catch she pulled in around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, June 8.Photo by Nathan Miller

“What a grandmother won’t do for their grandson,” Hawks said.

A little while later, Huxley strolled up to the measuring table with a successful catch, demonstrating victory over the weeds.

His sister, Hallie, got in on the action too. She pulled in a modest 3-incher.

Winners of the fishing derby posing with the fishing poles they were given as prizes.Photo by Nathan Miller

The winners were:

In the 4-to 8-year-old range:

— First place: Evan Vonelm with an 18 inch catch

— Second place: Kenzky Kain with 16.75 inch catch

— Third place: Ryker Boyce with a 15.5 inch catch

In the 9-to 12-year-old age range:

— First place: Zach Monty with a 16 inch catch

— Second place: Logan Jenkins with a 15 inch catch

— Third place: Gunther Marshall with a 12 inch catch

and in the 13-to 15-year-old age range, the sole participant and first place winner was Jacob Dean with an 11 inch catch.

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