Reeling in Memories: Highlights from This Year’s Fishing Derby

If you missed our Carpe Diem Fishing Derby this past weekend at Rosewood Nature Study Area, it was a blast! It has been about three years since Rosewood Nature Study Area officially opened to the public and we recently held our annual Carpe Diem Fishing Derby. Thanks to the hard work of our staff, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, local community members and the local businesses that sponsored and supported us, the event was a huge success with our biggest turn-out yet! This year’s event was supported by a partnership with KTVN News 2. We counted 175 participants who fished, learned about wetlands, and a total of 33 carp were caught.  Our winners included:

Youth Winners

    Most Fish - Caiden G. (2 fish)

    Longest Fish - Brooklyn A. (22in long, 5.39lbs)

    Heaviest Fish - Kyler C. (18 in long, 4.28lbs)

    Shortest Fish - Nixon S. (17.2in long, 3.1lbs)

Adult Winners

    Most Fish - Jason Bauman (6 fish)

    Longest Fish - Alan Kiplinger (28in long, 20.5lbs)

    Heaviest Fish - Logan Kramer (24in long, 7.57lbs)

    Shortest Fish - Johnny T. (13in long, 1.42lbs)

*Note winners can only win one category

Staff Highlights:

From Wetland Technician Chloe Kinerson:

In the morning, I went around and talked to people. Everyone seemed pretty happy to be there and looking forward to fishing. There were a lot of families that all came together for the event. Most of the kids seemed excited to go fishing.

I was at the weigh station for most of the day. My favorite part of being at the weigh station was seeing the kids walk up with the fish that they caught. They were very excited about their catch, and it was great to see that they were having fun. One of the last kids who came to the weigh station was very excited about the possibility of winning the prize for smallest fish, which I thought was very funny. 

My weigh station was the one that measured the 20.5 lb carp that was a record fish for us.

It was very sunny, so I'm proud of everyone who stuck it out despite the heat. I also want to give thanks to the chefs at the food station, the breakfast sandwiches were a delicious addition to the day!

From Wetland Outreach Coordinator Jennie Johnson:

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of working at the third annual fishing derby, which turned out to be the biggest one yet. The event was a vibrant gathering of families and children, who enjoyed visiting various booths, including the popular Nevada Department of Wildlife station. Our Summer Camp team stole the show with water-powered bottle rockets, thrilling the young guests as some rockets soared so high they ended up on the roof, and one even had to be retrieved from the slough. A major highlight for me was the debut of our brand new fishing dock, now available for public use. It was heartening to see so many people exploring the Rosewood Nature Study Area and learning about the ongoing restoration efforts in the wetlands.

From Communications Coordinator Dayna Genio:

This was my first time at a fishing derby, and it was really refreshing to see the community come together and bond over a shared interest! Especially after learning that grass carp are invasive to the Truckee Meadows, Carpe Diem was a nice opportunity to spend time outdoors while doing something that will ultimately help our local wetland ecosystem. With the addition of the new fishing dock, as well as plans to expand our outdoor classrooms and install more gardens and community science amenities, I’m excited to see Rosewood Nature Study Area grow into a space that the community can continue to enjoy even more!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us at this year’s Fishing Derby. Your enthusiasm and camaraderie made the event truly special. We encourage all of you to visit the Rosewood Nature Study Area during our regular park hours. Remember, fishing is available year-round on the east side of the park, and we invite you to come and try out our brand-new dock. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy some peaceful fishing and to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Rosewood. We look forward to seeing you again soon and sharing more wonderful moments together at the park!

Thanks To Our Community Support:

News 2, Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Raising Canes, Soulful Seeds, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Bass Pro Shop / Cabelas, Alibi Ale Works, Black Rabbit Mead Co., BlueZone Sports, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Cold Stone Creamery, Costco, GearHut, Junkee Clothing Exchange, Moana Nursery, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Nevada Discovery, Pigeon Head Brewery, SCHEELS, Sierra Meat & Seafood, Smashing Good Time, Sprinkle Donuts, The Glass Die, Trader Joe’s, Truckee Bagel Co., Vista Awards in Sparks