The fish were really active and biting during the 16th Annual Auburn Hills River Day Fishing Derby, which was on Saturday on June 8, 2019, at Riverside Park. The 121 kids who lined the banks of the Clinton River had the opportunity to catch one or more of the 875 rainbow trout that were released in the river that flows through the City’s Downtown.
It didn’t take too long after the 8:00 am start time for the first young angler to catch a fish, which occurred around 8:09 am. From that point on many of the participants began showing their fishing skills by landing a nice rainbow trout. Those new to fishing also felt at ease knowing that volunteers from Trout Unlimited and Detroit Area Steelheaders were on hand to assist them with their fishing gear or unhook the trout, some being as large as 15 inches in length.
One of the main reasons so many kids caught trout that day was in large part due to the generous donations made by Detroit Metro Steelheaders, Clinton Valley Trout Unlimited, and General Towing. Their donation enabled the City to double the amount of trout released for the day’s event.
The derby ended with many happy kids since everyone walked away with a raffle prize, that included tackle boxes, fishing nets, hats, snacks, and over 60 slightly used rods and reel combos donated by Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.
If you missed the derby, there still are plenty of fish and time to test your fishing skills in Downtown Auburn Hills at Riverside Park and River Woods Park. You can also view the photos on our Parks & Rec Facebook page!
For those interested in becoming more involved in projects that improve fishing opportunities in and along the Clinton River or one of its many tributaries please visit:
- Clinton River Watershed Council – www.crwc.org
- Clinton Valley Trout Unlimited – www.clintonvalleytu.com
- Detroit Area Steelheaders – www.detroitsteelheaders.com
- Vanguard Trout Unlimited – www.vanguardtu.org
For information on what action you can take to protect our water resources and our resident trout population, please visit www.auburnhills.org/stormwater.php or www.crwc.org
A special thank you to all our Fishing Derby sponsors and supporters.
Shawn Keenan, City Planner
Inside Auburn Hills 