It was cold, dark and rainy. Not that young anglers seem to notice at this year's edition of the Loveland Kids Fishing Derby

This old angler's memory of the Loveland Kids Fishing Derby goes back almost two decades, and there's never been a derby so thoroughly wet from start to finish. Parents, grandparents and club volunteers seemed to  notice, but all the kids seemed to care about was a very satisfying day of fishing. It was a very good day on the Duck Pond of North Lake Park.

Here is a link to the Google album of photos from the event: 2023 Loveland Kids Fishing Derby photos

Thanks to a generous stocking of rainbow trout large and small, along with cool water temperatures,  Colorado Youth Outdoors volunteers were kept busy cleaning and cooking kids' catches, and club members were hard pressed to keep up with fish measurements. "Scarlett" won the raffle prize for largest fish of the day, a 13 1/2-inch rainbow, and "Cooper" took the prize for smallest, at 7 inches.

Always scattered among the relatives of derby competitors are folks who fished the derby themselves, back over the years. Prominent among this year's alumni: Jason Mahrlig, who proudly recalls winning the derby back in 1992, as a lad of 6, and again in 1993 and 1994. Today was his 37th birthday, and his son finished second in the contest for largest fish of the day, with a 13-inch rainbow. Thanks to all who supported the event.

Following are photos taken during the day by Bill Prater and LFC Derby Chair Rick Golz. 

1992-93-94 Derby alumni Jason Mahrlig and son

Raffle prize winner Ellia

Soggy but triumphant Everitt

Fish on their way to being measured, then eaten