Father’s Day Family Fishing Derby

🎣Sunday, June 21, 2026 • 12:00 – 2:30 PM • MVPA Pond

Spend Father’s Day afternoon at the pond. MVPA’s fishing derby is back! This is a catch-and-release event for member families of all skill levels — bring a rod or borrow one of ours (contingent on supply), set up a picnic, and let the kids try their hand at casting, knot-tying, and pond life discovery. Ribbons in every age group, awards at 2:10 PM.  🐟

When: 

Sunday, June 21, 2026  •  12:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Where: 

MVPA pond and pavilion

Who: 

MVPA member families. All ages welcome — Pee-Wee through Adult.

Cost: 

Free for member families.

What to bring: 

A picnic, your own grill supplies if you’d like, sunscreen, and a fishing rod. We’ll have some loaner rods, bait, and tackle, but not enough for everyone.

How the Derby Works

Sign in at the registration table when you arrive. Every fisher gets a bib number — that’s how we credit catches at the weigh-in stations set up around the pond. You can fish anywhere along the shore. It’s catch-and-release: every fish is weighed, measured, and goes back in the pond.

Lines in the water at 12:30. Last cast at 2:00. Awards at the pavilion at 2:10.

Categories & Prizes

Ribbons in every age group — Pee-Wee (3–6), Junior (7–11), Teen (12–17), and Adult — plus a Family Team category for parent-and-kid combined weight. We’ll also hand out special awards for smallest fish and oddest catch.

Learning Stations for Kids

Three drop-in stations run from 12:00 to 2:00, staffed by MVPA volunteers:

  • How to Cast — instruction for spincast, spinning, and baitcaster reels, with target practice on the lawn
  • How to Tie a Knot — practice the improved clinch knot on paracord, then graduate to real fishing line
  • Pond Life Discovery — what fish, frogs, turtles, and bugs actually live in our pond

Kids who visit all three stations get their Pond Bingo card stamped and earn a small prize at the pavilion.

Food & Drinks

Bring your own picnic. The park’s gas and charcoal grills are open for family use, first-come, first-served. The Snack Shack will be open and the Bloom & Brew coffee truck will be on site throughout the event.

New to Fishing? We’ve Got You

No rod, no tackle, no problem. Loaner rods, bait, and tackle are at the registration table — pick up what you need, return it when you’re done. Our learning stations are designed exactly for first-time fishers, and our volunteers are ready to help kids (and parents) get their first fish in the water.

Questions?  Contact the activities chair here

Schedule

12:00 PM Gates open — register, set up your picnic, claim a grill
12:00–2:00 Learning stations open: Casting, Knots, Pond Life
12:20 PM Welcome remarks and safety briefing at the pavilion
12:30 PM Lines in the water — fishing begins
1:00 PM Casting contest on the lawn (20 minutes)
2:00 PM Last cast — bring final catches to weigh-in
2:10 PM Awards ceremony
2:30 PM Event wrap

Rules & Safety

  • Catch-and-release only. All fish go back in the pond.
  • No wading — please stay on the shoreline.
  • No fly fishing (limited shoreline space).
  • Wear your bib number whenever you’re fishing — it’s how we credit your catches.
  • Circle hooks recommended for easier release — we have them available at the loaner station.
  • Pack out what you pack in.

Register Now

Walk-ups are welcome, but registering ahead helps us plan for bait, supplies, and ribbons.

Please login to your member account to register for this event! Thanks!