By Monty Siekerman
Good fishing weather brought out many people to the Liberty Conservation Club’s annual May fishing derby on Sunday.

The derby is a big membership drive for the club with participants paying a $20 annual membership fee to try to catch tagged fish that will win you a prize. A few nights before the derby, club members add about 500 pounds of catfish, trout, and panfish to the quarry to make the fishing better, tagging some of them for prizes.

Youth get the first shot at trying to snag a winning fish. Later in the afternoon, adults try their luck.

The club sponsors a chicken/fish fry every month except August because many of the club members lend a hand to the Farmers and Merchants that month. All are welcome at the monthly dinners, whether or not a member.

Later in the summer, several catfish derbies will be held. The Ada Icon will announce those dates, once established.

PHOTOS:

• As Luke England knows, this track wheelchair gets you about anyplace, even down the hill to the Liberty Conservation Club fishing quarry. He tries his hand at catching the catfish named Big Liberty on Sunday at the  club’s annual fishing derby. Hooking Big Liberty can win you $100. Luke fishes with brother Levi and Anna Conley.

• Winners all—Youth winning money for catching fish at the Liberty Conservation Club annual fishing derby are Xavier Gammon, Donnie Tanner, Landen Green, Nick Zickafoose, Oliver Wayts, Gavin Oldfield, Kaitlyn Oldfield, Carlie Oldfield, Jenna Bassitt, Harper Conner, Jasmine Gibson. Prizes were awarded to the largest and smallest fish caught in various categories of fish.