The annual Clarendon Hills Park District fishing derby, postponed last week due to heavy rains, will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, at the Prospect Park pond behind the Community Center, 315 Chicago Ave.
“With the volume of rain last week, it caused the water level to rise significantly and it was decided to postpone the derby until the pond area was in better shape,” said Don Scheltens, executive director of the Park District.
On July 22 a supplier dumped 425 pounds of channel catfish into the pond for the derby, or at least 200 fish, Scheltens said.
Although some fishing has taken place at the pond since last weekend, officials say there is more than enough fish for the derby.
“Even if people took out 100 fish in the last seven days, we still have at least 100 to 125 good sized channel catfish in there, plus all the other types of panfish we stock each year,” Scheltens said.
Scheltens said the Park District asked its supplier if another load of fish could be stocked by Saturday morning, but the supplier could not guarantee delivery in time for the start of the derby.
The cost to stock the pond July 22 was $1,200, Scheltens said.
There is no charge to enter the event, and registration will be taken on site Saturday morning. Awards will be given for the longest fish caught.
Clarendon Hills —
