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A Mark of Spring: 36th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby Returns Saturday, April 4

Let's hope this year's derby day features just as nice weather as in the past. Photo by Amanda Lugenbell, Blowing Rock TDA
Let’s hope this year’s derby day features just as nice weather as in the past. Photo by Amanda Lugenbell, Blowing Rock TDA

The 36th Annual Blowing Rock Trout Derby will take place in and around North Carolina’s Prettiest Small Town on Saturday, April 4, from sunrise to 4:30 p.m.  First-place winners will receive trophies in five divisions: Men, Women, Girls (12-14) Boys (12-14) and Small Fries (11 and under).  No entry fees are required and no pre-registration is necessary.

Officials announced an important change to the 2015 Trout Derby: Contest headquarters where information is distributed and participants’ fish are measured and registered has been moved to the Blowing Rock Clubhouse at 108 Lakeside Drive, on the corner of Clark Street next to the Robbins Swimming Pool. There is plenty of free parking in the swimming pool lot, which is only a short distance from Broyhill Lake, which will be stocked with hundreds of fish in the days leading up to the Derby.

Special prizes will be awarded to the first fish, largest trout in each species, and tagged fish. Local school children are encouraged to enter the Trout Derby T-shirt Art Contest through their classroom participation or on Derby Day at Derby headquarters. The winner of the contest will have his or her artwork used as the logo for next year’s Trout Derby.

The Blowing Rock Trout Derby was started in the late 1970s by Blowing Rock businessmen Jim Marsh, Elmer Jenkins, Earl Trexler and Carl Underwood to encourage kids to learn how to fish and create some early April outdoor activity.

In addition to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, the 2015 event sponsors include M-Prints, Inc.; Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce; Chetola Mountain Resort & Spa; J.B. Allen Home Solutions; High Country Chapter of Hunters Helping Kids; 4 Forty Four; Mike Calhoun’s Bass Club; Blowing Rock Tire; Caldwell County Chapter of Hunters Helping Kids; Mr. Restoration Fire, Flood and Disaster Services; and Jenkins Realtors, Inc.

Trophy sponsors include Modern Toyota; A-1 Termite and Pest Control; Angelo Nigro Maintenance; Labonte Plumbing; and The New Public House & Hotel.

For more information on the Trout Derby and overnight accommodations in the Blowing Rock area, visit blowingrock.com or contact the Visitor Center at 828-295-4636.