Aileen McDonald and her support crew teamed up with nature to give the kids another great event. This year’s “Bagels and Bass” Fishing Derby (held on Sunday, June 14) drew a welcome 21 kids, making the Baby Lake an especially active place for the morning. As usual, prizes were given to all of the kids who came. But the competition was hot for the first picks. ;)
James McDonald took the top spot by catching 25 fish in the one-hour timeframe; that’s almost one every two minutes! Zoey Kaplan kept the heat on by reeling in 21 fish. Dylan, out for his first day of fishing, caught 14 for third place. James also took the honor of catching the largest fish, a 10-inch bass. And Sofia won the prize for the smallest fish—three inches—as well as the first catch of the day!
Aileen’s family, including Jimmy, Vito, Mathew, and Chloe, as well as Bill Terribile provided solid support with unhooking fish, measuring them, reloading worms, and general help for all the kids.
Photos by Rik Paul. If you’d like to add your own photos to this gallery, just send them through this link.
2026 Fishing Derby
Welcome to "Bagels & Bass".
The kids and crew (1 of 4).
The kids and crew (2 of 4).
The kids and crew (3 of 4).
The kids and crew (4 of 4).
Aileen, Olivia, Violet, and Dani
The event drew a great turnout of 21 kids.
James caught 25 fish in the hour-long event.
Zoey was a close second with 21 fish.
In his first time fishing, Dylan caught 14.
James, with one of his 25 fish.
Violet reels in one of her seven fish.
A happy Violet.
James, waiting for a nibble.
Jenny, showing off her prize.
Carly, with one of her eleven catches.
Jenny feels in another.
Jenny, showing off her latest catch.
Logan reeled in ten fish.
Lukas, reeling in a fish.
Lukas.
Joe and Max, learning the techniques.
Olivia, showing off one of her catches.
Rian and Ashley.
Rian reels in another one.
Rian, showing off his latest prize.
Matt: "But it was Rian's pole!"
Sofia, Lukas, and Rian intently studying a critter.
Sofia nabbed the smallest and quickest fishes.
Yes, crayfish count, too!
Ava shows off one of her ten catches.
Ava and fish.
Ava, excited about another one.
Christian catches one of his ten.
Kaiden shows off Christian's latest catch.
Christian pulls in another.
Dani waits for a nibble.
Dylan and dad.
Adam shows one of John's catches.
Joseph kicks back and takes it all in.
Dylan, showing another of his 14 fish.
Jimmy spent a lot of time dehooking fish.
Vito was busy all morning helping the kids.
Chloe measures one of Dylan's fish.
Chloe and Mathew: part of the key support team.
Bill won for best hat.
Prizes for everybody!
Steve and Jeanmarie were among the spectators.