GONE FISHING
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
Participation numbers were down and the fish weren’t biting much, but considering the nature of what organizers were up against, the 17th annual Freeman Fishing Derby held Saturday morning, June 17 is being declared a success.
“With everything going on, I was happy with it,” said Sam Sorensen, who notes that the number of registered participants — 49 — was down slightly from last year’s 55, but that was largely due to a host of other activities taking place that day, including three youth baseball and softball tournaments.
“Given that,” Sorensen said, “I’m totally satisfied.”
He should be.
Fact is, just a few months ago, there was a question as to whether the fishing derby would even happen. Not only were the ponds of the arboretum depleted of fish thanks to 100% winterkill, the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks, which typically helps stock the waters, were dealing with their own setback from a hard season.
“They called and said, ‘don’t plan on us bringing any fish because all of our little ponds froze and died out,’” Sorensen said. “So we weren’t sure what we were doing to do.”
As it turns out, not only did the state department come through with 200 bluegills and 60 black crappie, but Sorensen got in touch with an individual from Philip who raises and sells fish. And in early June, Marty Hansen, who operates a West River fish hatchery with his dad, filled the arboretum ponds with Minos for feeding and then, several weeks later, stocked the waters with 350 bass and 800 perch.
The fish were paid for using leftover funds from a local sportsman club that is no longer active.
“That really worked out well,” Sorensen said.
The input of new fish meant the fishing derby would take place as planned.
And so, on a beautiful Saturday morning, 49 registered youth and their families visited the arboretum for the 90-minute catch-and-release derby made possible thanks to sponsorship support and a crew of volunteers.
And while the ponds were stocked, just 35 fish were caught.
“You could see them swimming — it’s mossy, but we want that — but the kids couldn’t fish everywhere because of the cattails,” said Sorensen. “But that’s cover for (the fish). A lot of people don’t understand that; we had 100% winterkill and they need that protection.”
Not only were the cattails a problematic reality, but those fishing also had to contend with unwelcome guests that limited the success.
“The fish would start going to the line,” Sorensen said, “but the problem was that the minute they would hear that ‘plunk,’ those dang turtles would come and eat the bait.”
The net result was just 30 bass and five perch reeled in — 16 total in the 11-15 age group, 15 in age 6-10 and four from age 1-5.
Still, everybody left with a prize made possible thanks to the support from 16 sponsors.
“It was a perfect day,” Sorensen said. “Kids always get excited when they can go home with a prize.”
This year’s derby also once again benefitted from considerable help from volunteers, whether at the registration table or roaming the grounds of the arboretum tracking and recording catches.
“Every year you worry about the help, but we had enough people there,” said Sorensen.
The strong assist from the community is what made the Freeman Fishing Derby a success that first year of 2005, when friends and avid fishermen Chet Sorensen and Tom Stolp organized the inaugural event, and what has helped it continue all these years later.
With the exception of 2020 and 2021, the Freeman Fishing Derby has been a June staple every year since, with Sam Sorensen heading it up following the passing of its founds — Sam’s dad, Chet in 2008 and Stolp in 2014.
“It’s work,” Sam said, “but it’s worth it.”
