height="82" border="0" alt="Link to Northeast Region, USFWS; map of region">To celebrate

National Boating and Fishing Week, Iroquois (N.Y.) National Wildlife Refuge sponsored its 15th

Annual Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 5. Despite threats of rain, the event attracted 77 children between the ages of one and 17 years.

At registration, each young angler received a grab bag full of goodies, including tickets for a photograph of their prize catch and a can of soda.

Door prize drawings for a variety of fishing merchandise capped off the very successful event.

Trophies and certificates were awarded for the biggest fish caught in three age categories

— seven years and younger, 8-12 years, and 13-17 years. A casting contest with two age divisions and a biggest fish award were included in

this year's derby.

Local sponsors for the youth fishing derby included Wal-Mart of Batavia, Tony Scime's Tackle and

Variety of Buffalo, and Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. This year the derby was part of the Wal-Mart All American Fishing Derby

Program, which provided many of the items in the grab bags.

This event provides a great opportunity for all of the refuge's employees, volunteers, and friends to

interact with the community. Many of the children come back to the event year after year and look forward to the chance to take home a trophy or

a great door prize. All children enjoy quality time spent in the outdoors with family and friends.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast