There’s something about fishing that settles into your bones. Maybe it starts with a tug on the line. Or the quiet thrill of casting into calm waters. Or maybe, it starts on the banks of the Grand River—surrounded by friends, sunshine, and the excitement of the Mudcat Festival Kids Fishing Derby.
For many kids, this annual event isn’t their first time holding a rod… but it’s where their love for the sport takes root. It’s where the connection deepens, the passion catches fire—and sometimes, where unforgettable stories are made.
^ Click on the photo above to scroll through the 2024 Mudcat Festival Photos
A Pickerel, A Mudcat, and a Spark
Last year, a teenage relative of a Watertite staff member took part in the derby. It was one of their first introductions to fishing. Something about that day stayed with him. His excitement caught the attention of the Watertite team, who offered to take him out for a day on Lake Erie. The result? One of the best fishing days of the year.
Together they reeled in a dozen pickerel—some as big as nine pounds—and topped it all off with a 15-pound channel catfish. A mudcat. A full-circle moment that tied together a local tradition, a festival mascot, and a new love for the sport in the most incredible way.
“I had to get a picture with the catfish as well [above]; I’ve fished Lake Erie with my Father and Grandfather since I was 4 years old – never had we caught a mudcat in the lake! Must have been the spirit of the mudcat festival or something!”
~ Zak Keyes of Watertite Roofing
Five Rods and a Tackle Box
And then there’s the 11-year-old who came to last year’s derby with curiosity and a borrowed rod. By the end of the day, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, he left with one of his own.
Since then? He’s collected four more rods and a tackle box he proudly keeps stocked. He can tell you which colours to use and when, what lures are best for what conditions—and he’s spent the last month asking his mom every single week: “Is it derby weekend yet?”
Fishing has become more than a hobby. It’s become part of his identity.
Thanks to Those Who Make It Happen
The Kids Fishing Derby is about more than fish. It’s about community, encouragement, and the kind of small moments that spark big passions.
To Watertite, our Presenting Sponsor—thank you for stepping up in such a meaningful way and helping us pass the joy of fishing to the next generation.
To Michelle Avery, whose heart is woven into every detail of this event—thank you for your tireless dedication and love for our youth.
And to every sponsor and volunteer who helped make sure no child left empty-handed—thank you. Your support doesn’t just make the event possible. It makes lasting memories, lifelong interests, and traditions that will ripple across generations.
🎣 The Mudcat Festival Kids Fishing Derby: Because the love of fishing doesn’t just start here. It grows here—on the Grand.
