Sand Springs Kids Fishing Derby to be month-long event this June

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Winners from the 2019 Kids Fishing Derby.

The landscape of public events has radically changed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 31st Annual Kids Fishing Derby in Sand Springs is no exception. The free event typically draws hundreds of participants to the small Sand Springs Lake, but due to social distancing, it will be very different in 2020.

Usually a one-day event that awards prizes for the largest and smallest fish caught in various age brackets, the 2020 event will take place over the entire month of June. Instead of having weigh-ins, participants will only have to catch one fish, take a photo with it, and submit it online. There will be no awards for best angler, but instead, all participants will be entered into random drawings. Instead of being exclusive to the Sand Springs Lake, kids can now participate at any body of water.

The event is open to kids from four to twelve years of age, and there will be three divisions: four to six years, seven to nine years, and ten to twelve years. There will be a prize drawing for each age group, and every participant will receive a t-shirt.

The free event has few rules. Parents are allowed to assist in casting, and removing the fish from the hook, but the child must catch, hook, and land the fish on their own. The child has to be posing with their fish in the photo. All entries must be submitted by June 30th at 11:59 p.m.

The event began in 1991 and was hosted by the Sand Springs Parks Department. It is now co-hosted by the Parks Department and Church That Matters. All entries should be submitted at this link.

Church That Matters hosts 29th Annual Kids Free Fishing Derby, gives away free boat

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The 29th Annual Kids’ Free Fishing Derby went off without a hitch Saturday morning at the Sand Springs Lake, drawing more than 200 participants between the ages of 4-12.

Church That Matters hosted the event in partnership with the Sand Springs Parks Department, with free giveaway prizes donated by numerous community businesses. The lake was stocked with more than 200 pounds of catfish, bass, and bluegill prior to the event.

Briley Blaylock won the 4-6 age division with a 9.1 ounce catch, followed by Tristen Walker (6.5) and Jason Speck (4.3). Owen Russell won the 7-9 division with a 14.5 oz catch, followed by Alecia Oxidine (11.1) and Chandlar Templeton (9.8). Dalton Lunn won the 10-12 division with a 7.9 oz fish, followed by Bayley Gehri (7.7) and Carson Simmons (6.8).

Russell had the biggest overall catch at 14.5 oz, while Julianna Romero had the smallest at 0.2 oz. Peyton Simms won the biggest turtle competition at 10.75 inches.

Raffle prizes included an O’Rageous Family Pool, a Ginormous Gorilla Sprinkler, fishing poles, water guns, free kids’ meal gift cards to Charlie’s Chicken, Frisbees, tackle boxes, coolers, Dave & Buster’s gift cards, a Magellan 5-man Bastrop Tent, an Intex Challenger one-person kayak, and a Sundolphin two-person fishing boat.

The Sand Springs Lake Park is located at 1401 East Park Road and features a bike/walking trail, a beautiful garden, a picnic area, and a shelter.