Anglers Derby provides chance for fun, prizes

The Eric Dickinson Accessible Anglers Derby is holding its seventh annual fishing event this week, and everyone is invited to attend.

The Legion Park pond will be stocked and ready for participants to have some fun and show off their fishing skills on Friday, Sept. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The derby was started by John Bahr and Eric Dickinson in 2007 to give people with disabilities a chance to get together to fish, eat and win prizes.

“Basically, we just decided to do something to get people out and just enjoy fishing,” Bahr said. “I’ve always enjoyed fishing, and it’s just a way to bring people together. We’ve also tried to incorporate some of the seniors too, to get them more involved.”

“Anybody’s actually welcome,” added Connie Carillo, who is helping assist the organizing of the derby. “We may put you to work, but anyone’s welcome to come and hang out with us.”

Carillo spoke about how the event was started.

“John called me and said, ‘Hey, I really want to do this – a tournament for adults with disabilities,’ ” she said. “We have fishing tournaments for kids, we have our senior fishing day and we just didn’t really have anything for folks with disabilities. So these guys, he and Eric Dickinson, they went out and pounded the pavement. They did all the work to get people to help, so that they could feed them and have prizes for everybody.”

After Dickinson died two years ago, Bahr changed the name of the event to the Eric Dickinson Accessible Anglers Derby as a tribute to Dickinson.

Attendees will be treated to barbecued brats, hot dogs and chips, and everyone will receive a gift. The Salvation Army is donating a Wal-Mart gift card worth $400 to purchase food and supplies for the event.

Aside from food and fishing, prizes will also be awarded.

“We should have some nice prizes,” Carillo said. “Fishing poles, probably some shirts, tackle boxes and Husker stuff.”

Participants will be provided with rods and tackle at no charge.

“We’ll provide all the fishing rods, so nobody has to bring their own fishing rods unless they want to,” Carillo said.

The event usually draws about 30 participants, and Bahr and Carillo ask that anyone who would like to help out at the event to give them a call.

“We need help, because it does require some one-on-one fishing with some of the folks,” Carillo said. “Last year, our Sidney Police Department sent over a bunch of folks, and I have a call into them. Hopefully they’ll graciously accept. If anyone wants to call to volunteer to help, please call us.”

Bahr and Carillo promise that the derby will be a memorable experience.

“We’re just going to have a great time,” Carillo said. “We always do, and people really enjoy it.”

To learn more or to volunteer, call Connie Carillo at 308-249-5235 or John Bahr at 308-249-6339.