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Garrett Thomas Catches Biggest Fish at Inaugural Cove Creek Trout Derby

Story by Janet Montgomery

Neighbors of all ages fished Cove Creek last Saturday for the inaugural Cove Creek Trout Derby. Photo courtesy of Judy Eurey Trout fishermen are a determined breed. Cool, misty mornings do not deter them. The light was still intensifying, beginning to touch the pear blossoms at Cove Creek when the fishermen came, bearing their fly rods, fishing poles, and even a branch of a tree with a string on it. It was the inaugural Henson Chapel United Methodist Church Trout Derby on Saturday, April 5.

After all, with $400 in cash prizes to be had, door prizes and hot dogs with all the fixin’s provided by the boys at Cove Creek Farm, all for a dollar, it was a great deal for families and pros alike. But it was the fish that counted with these resolute fishermen, who ranged in age from 3 years to well over 60 years old.

Recently stocked with trout so that all children and adults would have a good chance of catching supper, Cove Creek was cold and clear, bubbling across the rocks and under the ledges. The rain had not muddied its waters, but had made the rocks glisten and the moss greener. Children and their families, kids of all ages, competed to see who would get the biggest fish of any species, or the biggest trout in the varied age groups.

It was a close competition. A young man caught a 16-inch carp in the mid-morning that was the biggest fish overall for much of the day. He had plenty of advice on how to cook that fat ol’ carp. Larry Horton suggested the best recipe, and here it is: “Take the fish and filet it, removing the head, then lay it out on a pine plank. Bake the fish in the oven for 2 hours. Take the fish out of the oven. Throw the fish away and eat the plank.”

That 16-inch carp seemed sure to win. Who could catch a bigger fish in the last few minutes? But it happened. Garrett Thomas caught a 17-inch granddaddy trout about 30 minutes before the time was up. Having tried a variety of flies and all kinds of bait, Thomas finally put a piece of corn on his line. That granddaddy trout must have been waiting for a better menu, because he took the bait and turned out to be the biggest fish of any species, the biggest trout in Thomas’s age group. Just to top off a very successful day, Thomas also won one of the biggest door prizes, a fishing rod.

In the younger categories, Chloe Miller Jordan Metcalf had the biggest fish in their age groups and also won $100 each.