Despite a rainfall that persisted throughout the morning, families still attended the Saturday March Trout Derby hosted by the Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation department. Photo by Ryan Dunn.
Despite rainfall that lasted throughout the morning, parents and children arrived at Sugarland Run Trail in Herndon the morning of Saturday, March 14 to participate in the annual fishing derby. The Town of Herndon’s Parks and Recreation Department coordinated the event. Volunteer groups assisting at the event included members from Trout Unlimited. “This is our sixth time participating in this event,” said George Paine, a resident of Reston and secretary of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Trout Unlimited (NVATU). “It is a great opportunity to connect kids with the outdoor scene,” said Paine.
“Hats off to the parents who are taking their kids out,” said Roy Lindquist, a volunteer with NVATU. The participants met behind the Herndon Police Station on the Sugarland Run Trail. Teens and adults ages 16 and up had to have a valid Virginia State Fishing License to fish. Adults were not permitted to fish during kids fishing time. “It is a lot of fun to teach the kids how to fish,” said volunteer John Davey.
NVATU is a diverse group of men, women and children, mostly from the Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County, who enjoy fishing and associated activities to enhance quality fishing opportunities. It is one of the largest TU chapters and often interact with other nearby chapters. The chapter holds regular meetings on the first Thursday evening of every month at the Vienna Firehouse. You need not be a member to come to meetings. The Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited Chapter #360 is Northern Virginia's leading nonprofit cold-water fisheries conservation organization with about 1,000 members.
“We heard about this event from the Herndon Community Center,” said Jasmine Yao, who brought her son Ted. Many attendees found out about the event from the Herndon Community Center. The Guggenmos family brought umbrellas and rain jackets with them. “I think it is great how they give us all the bait and tackle we need,” said Steve Guggenmos. “It is pretty fun, the only downside is the rain,” said Steve’s son, Bennett Guggenmos.
Continued rainfall on Saturday put a damper on the outdoor Herndon event. As the trout were raised in a fish hatchery, they were unfamiliar to the weather conditions of high water levels made by the snow melt and rainfall. Still for those who participated it was an opportunity to share quality time. For those who may seek to fish on other days, Trout Fishing at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston resumed on Sunday, March 15, and continues until Sunday, May 3.
Although fishable year-round, spring is the premier time for fishing at Lake Fairfax. Thousands of pounds of safe-to-eat rainbow trout are stocked in the lake. Bi-weekly stockings run from February into April. A Virginia fishing license is required along with either a one-day or a seasonal trout fishing pass available at the site. There are one-pole and six-fish limits. The lake is accessible for shoreline fishermen. Other locations where fishing is possible includes Riverbend Park in Great Falls and Burke Lake. Burke Lake is a 218-acre, state-owned public fishing lake. Fairfax County owns the parkland around the Burke Lake, and there is a 24-hour state launch ramp exclusively for anglers near the dam.