From the Optimist Club of Stanley Park & Natural Sports
Since 1988 the Grand River Bass Derby has been one of Canada's largest and longest running live release bass derbys while generating thousands of dollars for conservation and public access projects in south western Ontario
After the recent challenges of running public events and gatherings and several other factors, the club and organizers have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Derby.
We would like to thank our many sponsors, volunteers and participants that helped make the derby a success for over 30 years.
Funds raised from the Derby are currently being used to help develop and improve public access points along the Grand River. If your club or organization has a conservation or fisheries related project in Waterloo Region that requires funding please send a detailed request to Natural Sports.
Since 1988 the Grand River Bass Derby has been one of Canada's largest and longest running live release bass derbys while generating thousands of dollars for conservation and public access projects in south western Ontario
After the recent challenges of running public events and gatherings and several other factors, the club and organizers have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Derby.
We would like to thank our many sponsors, volunteers and participants that helped make the derby a success for over 30 years.
Funds raised from the Derby are currently being used to help develop and improve public access points along the Grand River. If your club or organization has a conservation or fisheries related project in Waterloo Region that requires funding please send a detailed request to Natural Sports.
During the winter of 1988, Peter Bingeman of Bingeman Park and Nelson Murakami of Natural Sports discussed the idea of a community fishing event that would highlight the local fishing on the Grand River. At the time many people didn't realize the incredible natural resource they had, literally in their own back yard. In partnership with the Optimist Club of Stanley Park the region's first bass Derby was established.
The primary objective was to highlight and promote local fishing on the Grand River, educate people in 'Catch and Release' (which was a new term back then) as well as offer a fun filled, family oriented event. Another initiative was to measure the fishing on the river by way of a creel census survey that compared the hours spent fishing to the number of fish caught. 30 years of tracked data has been used to help manage the fishing on the river and provided incomparable insight for the MNRF and GRCA.
It is the hope of the Grand River Bass Derby organizers that people will continue to enjoy fishing and recreation on the River and endeavor to protect and enhance the resource in every way possible.
Thank you for your support!
The primary objective was to highlight and promote local fishing on the Grand River, educate people in 'Catch and Release' (which was a new term back then) as well as offer a fun filled, family oriented event. Another initiative was to measure the fishing on the river by way of a creel census survey that compared the hours spent fishing to the number of fish caught. 30 years of tracked data has been used to help manage the fishing on the river and provided incomparable insight for the MNRF and GRCA.
It is the hope of the Grand River Bass Derby organizers that people will continue to enjoy fishing and recreation on the River and endeavor to protect and enhance the resource in every way possible.
Thank you for your support!