“Operation Get Kids to Fish” was held Sunday at famed Golden Pond in Warwick.

The banks of the picturesque fishing hole were lined with children 12 and under for the annual fun-and-family Kids Fishing Derby which is sponsored and hosted by the Tri-City Elks Lodge located at 1915 West Shore Road.

Likewise, the day was also a sparkling success thanks to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management that according to Co-Chairman Dave Brown filled Golden Pond with over 200 rainbow and brownie trout and sun fish.

“It’s all part of the DEM’s youth mission that encourages getting children of all ages to go fishing,” said Brown, who was assisted by Harry Boyce, as they measured 12-year-old Lana Desroches’ prize-winning 16.5-inch rainbow trout. “This is always a special day for everyone; we all look forward to the Derby.”

That was also the case for Olivia Smith, 8, who won first place in her age division after reeling in a 16.3-inch trout and like Desroches took home a new fishing pole provided by long-time generous donor Tom Giddings of The Tackle Box in Conimicut Village.

Meanwhile, the Kids Fishing Derby featured what many people agreed is “the ongoing and unmatched hospitality of the Tri-City Elks” that organizing chairperson/Past Exalted Ruler Lori Eaton Ruler said, “was due to the valuable volunteer efforts of 17 Elks and five non-members who helped before, during and even after the Derby.”

For example, Arthur Roberge and Josh Tate, who own Hooked Up Tackle and Bait of Warwick, supplied each angler with a box of worms they used for bait.

The day began in vintage Tri-City form, as parents enjoyed their morning coffee and kids had hot chocolate along with the famous Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins.

During the four-hour family-filled fun fest, Elks like Past State Elks President Mark Eaton noted the Kids Fishing Derby has been going on since the 1960s. Meanwhile, Leading Knight Rick Swanson and his wife Kim, who was recently installed as Loyal Knight, welcomed parents and grandparents as they stood by a unique and lighted fire pit built by Elk Paul Cliff that offered a certain warmth to the morning’s chilly air.

At approximately 10:30, many of the nearly four-dozen children who entered the event walked into Tri-City’s spacious ground-floor dining room where they enjoyed hot dogs cooked by Past Exalted Ruler Bob Hartington along with potato chips and water before posing for the Derby’s Class of 2023 photo.

“Thank you to everyone for coming here today,” Lori Eaton told the nearly full room. “We hope you all had fun and we look forward to seeing you here at next year’s Derby.”