Opening Day 2017: Casting at Cass
Cass Pond and Lincoln Woods the hot spots; Carignan Memorial Derby a hit again with families
Saturday was ‘Opening Day’ of the freshwater trout fishing season across Rhode Island, and there were plenty of rods and reels in action locally. From left, twin brothers Elijah, left, and Eden Brown, 7, of Woonsocket, join a crowd of fishing enthusiasts at Cass Pond in Woonsocket for Saturday’s annual Ernest A. Carignan Memorial Fishing Derby; Scott Fernandes, 10, of Woonsocket, who was also taking part in the derby, proudly displays his “big, fat” trout he just hauled in at Cass Pond; and Andrew Shepherd, 10, of Woonsocket, gets ready to cast Saturday — his very first time fishing.
WOONSOCKET— Eight-year-old Trevor Marcheterre and his father Paul had yet to catch a fish after about three hours of casting a reel into the recently-stocked Cass Pond. Despite that, the ear-to-ear smiles on both of their faces on Saturday morning would make you think they had caught enough trout to empty the pond.
Paul Marcheterre of Woonsocket said that he had been fishing at Cass Pond since his father brought him and his brother when they were children. To be able to pass on that family tradition to his son, Trevor, made the day all the more special.
“It means everything,” he said. “It means a lot … He likes it, it's his first time fishing but he's been good.”
The Marcheterre family were among a crowd of about 200 area families who convened on Cass Pond well before sunrise on Saturday morning for the annual Ernest A. Carignan Jr. Memorial Fishing Derby. The derby also served as a celebration of Opening Day – the start of the trout and general freshwater fishing season.
“We got here at 5:30 to get a good spot,” Marcheterre said just before 9 a.m. on Saturday. “They bite early, but we haven't caught one yet.”
The annual derby, sponsored by the Woonsocket Lodge of Elks and the Woonsocket Parks & Recreation Department, was held for children ages 12 and under. Cass Pond came alive with energy Saturday morning, as some had arrived at the park, ready to drop their lines into the pond as early as 5 a.m. and counting down the minutes until the derby's 6 a.m. start.
Saturday's fishing tournament was named after Carignan, honorary life member of Woonsocket Elks Lodge #850, who served as chairman of the Elks' annual children's fishing derby at Cass Pond for more than 20 years. When Carignan died in 2012, the Elks renamed the popular children's event in his memory.
Derby chairman Andre Auclair said that the organizers arrived at Cass Park at 5 a.m. and were impressed to see many families were already on scene, anticipating the derby's start. Despite the brisk temperatures and blustery winds on Saturday morning, people were in great spirits, he said.
“I did it when I was a kid. I grew up doing this and wanted to give back,” Auclair said. “It gives the kids a chance to enjoy what I've enjoyed. I know the kids want to do it and it's something they enjoy.”
Woonsocket resident Charles Grenier and his three-year-old daughter Arianna arrived at the pond just before 6 a.m., but as of about 9:30, they'd yet to reel in a fish. Still, Grenier said, it was great to be able to share his enjoyment of fishing and nature with his daughter.
“I came as a kid and this is my first year with her,” he said as Arianna cast a reel into the pond. “It's all part of the experience, to be here early, it's part of being here.”
Grenier also surmised that the reason he and his daughter had yet to catch a fish was because of the cold temperatures early Saturday.
Elks member and derby volunteer Donald Harnois said that he has seen children age and grow over the years to the point where they are now adults and bringing their own children to the pond to fish.
“Opening Day means a lot to the kids, it instills in the families that familiar part of summer,” Harnois said.