Fishing lines slice through the air and splash into the water as the young anglers wait for a tug on their lines.

The town of Prosper hosted its annual fishing derby Feb. 21 at the pond located in Frontier Park. The community event is held outdoors, free of charge and registration is not required. The Derby invites young anglers ranging from 1-14 to cast their lines and compete for prizes for catching the most fish.

Angela Lewis, an event specialist for the town, noted that the competition is secondary to the community built throughout the day.

“Our main goal in hosting this is just to give the community an opportunity to come together,” Lewis said. “We really just want to cultivate community and encourage others to get out and enjoy what there is in Prosper to offer and just a chance to enjoy the sunshine. We’re glad for the great weather today.” 

Upon arrival at the derby, contestants chose spot anywhere at the pond’s edge. Parents can assist their children and judges are stationed around the area to track catches of the day. For some children, this event was a growing experience.

“I’ve never caught a trout and I’ve caught like three trout today,” angler Gray Bergman said. “So, that’s really fun that I’ve caught some today at this tournament.”

The excitement wasn’t limited to the young contestants — for parents like Deseray Duran, the day was about leaving lasting memories for the future.

“I feel that it’s important to get them out here so they can potentially pick up a new hobby and get them out into nature.” Duran said. “Hopefully they can develop a love for something that they could take with them as they get older.”

This article was edited by Trisha Panicker, Kate Duncan and Victoria Byers.