Correspondent photo / Susan Wojnar Genevieve Hicks, 10, left, sits with her sister Elizabeth Hicks, 8, both of Braceville, as Elizabeth handles a nightcrawler during the 10th annual free fishing derby at Mosquito Lake State Park. The Saturday event was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park.

BAZETTA — Dozens of children ages 15 and under came to the Lakeview Recreation Area at Mosquito Lake State Park on Saturday for the 10th annual free fishing derby sponsored by the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park and Bass Pro Shops in Howland.

Jason Lee, a naturalist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said the derby gives area youth an opportunity to learn and practice fishing skills, enjoy the outdoors with family and introduce the lake and park to area residents.

“Our gem is the lake. We are in the top three lakes in Ohio for walleye and bass. People travel from all over to fish here. The park sponsors weekly fishing tournaments of all types,” Lee said.

Friends of Mosquito Lake is a nonprofit formed to help support, protect and promote the park and encourage community participation in these efforts.

“We want to promote the lake and the outdoors and get kids off their phones,” said Kathy McDaniel of Mecca, a Friends member and volunteer at the event.

Don Urchek of Bazetta, a Friends member and lifelong lake resident, said he was there to volunteer for the sheer joy and excitement of seeing kids learn to fish. When asked what makes the best fisherman he said, “Someone who thinks about what they are doing and how they are doing it.”

Urchek was manning the measuring table, where derby participants brought their catches to be measured and recorded.

“Prizes go to the biggest, second biggest and the person who catches the most fish,” Urchek said.

Poles are provided by Bass Pro Shops in Howland.

Other volunteers were available to help kids learn to bait their hooks, cast their lines, reel fish in and learn about the different types of fish in the lake.

Volunteer Rich Urchek of Bazetta chuckled about first-timers’ squeamishness with nightcrawlers and the slimy fish themselves.

“We hear a lot of ‘Ewwww…. I don’t want to touch it,'” he said.

Sarah Miller, 5, of Cortland, was by the lakeshore taking a break from fishing and discovering the joy of finding large snails. She was wearing two large seagull feathers in her hair that she found by the shore.

“She’s having just as much fun picking up rocks and creatures as she is fishing,” her mother, Hillary Miller, said, noting it was her daughter’s second time fishing. Sarah’s brother, Jackson Miller, had caught a 4 1/2-inch bluegill.

Sporting a rainbow-colored umbrella hat to keep the sun at bay was Dakota Moore of Champion. He joked about how his mom, Danielle, screamed “Noooo!” earlier in the day the first time she had to bait his hook with a worm. A volunteer eventually helped her out.

This was Dakota’s third time fishing. Dakota is a vegetarian who planned to give any fish he caught to McDaniel, who owns pet otters.

Dakota also praised other park activities such as the Bobcat’s Lil’ Creatures educational animal show.

Selena Leonhard, 11, of Ontario, Ohio was all smiles as she brought her 7.5-inch bluegill up to the measuring counter. She said it “felt really good” to catch a larger fish and she has not been fishing for a while.

Her parents taught her to fish and she was using sausage as bait, as she too is a little squeamish with the worms.

Quincy Pascarella, 10, of Girard, was there with his grandparents, Liz and Rick Collins of Girard, who taught him to fish.

“I’m trying to teach patience,” said Rick, a lifelong fisherman who has fished Mosquito Lake for years.

“Years ago, I had my own boat and we were always out on the lake,” he said.

Noah Hicks, 12, of Braceville, was in attendance with his sisters, Elizabeth, 8, and Genevieve,10. They were camping at the lake with their parents. Noah caught seven fish Friday night, but so far on Saturday, he had “just caught seaweed.”