Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

The Civic Forum is set to host the third annual Fall Trout or Treat Derby on Saturday Oct. 27 at Roosevelt Lake.

The event is designed for kids ages 13 and under and seniors 55 and over.

Todd Book of Civic Forum said that 300 fish will be released into the lake the day before the derby and 20 will be specially tagged. The next morning, children and senior citizens will cast their lines into the lake hoping to angle one of the tagged fish to win a prize. Fishermen are free to catch and release as many un-tagged fish as they’d like, but the state only permits them to take home five.

“We’re going to have prizes, but it won’t be like the spring derby,” Book said. “They can keep the trout, so they’ve caught dinner or lunch or whatever, and we will have some other prizes for the lucky kids and seniors that catch the ones that are tagged.”

“The fish that aren’t caught will be swimming around that lake all winter long, so people will have the opportunity to go down and trout fish at Roosevelt Lake all through the winter and spring,” Book said.

ODNR will provide canoes and instruction for those interested throughout the event.

The Fall Trout Derby begins at 8 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.