05/17/2026
The 2026 Kids Fishing Derby hosted by the Horseshoe Bend Boating, Fishing & Sportsman’s Club was a tremendous success today at North Lake.
This year marked a special moment for our community, as the derby returned to North Lake for the first time in decades. In years past, the event had been hosted at Box Hound Marina, and we remain forever grateful to Ms. Laureen and Ed Sac for generously allowing the club to host the derby there for so many years.
Despite recent w**d treatment efforts at North Lake and some remaining vegetation in the water, the fishing was outstanding. The lake once again proved to be a wonderful community asset and provided an exciting experience for all the children who participated.
The numbers from today’s event were incredible:
• 87 children attended the derby
• 112 fish were caught by the kiddos throughout the day
Largest Fish Results:
• 1st Place Catfish — 6 pounds, 4 ounces
• 2nd Place Catfish — 5 pounds, 13 ounces
• 3rd Place Catfish — 5 pounds, 11 ounces
• 4th Place Catfish — 5 pounds, 10 ounces
There were some truly big fish in the lake, and these kids made sure they caught as many as they could.
Community participation this year was outstanding and showed just how far-reaching the Kids Fishing Derby continues to become. Based on the registration sheets, children attended from numerous communities across North Central Arkansas, including Horseshoe Bend, Salem, Oxford, Ash Flat, Wiseman, Franklin, Calico Rock, Hardy, Viola, Brockwell, Melbourne, Mountain View, and several surrounding areas.
The age range of participating children spanned from just 1 year old up to 15 years old, with especially strong participation among elementary and middle-school-aged kids.
The continued growth in attendance and regional participation reflects how important community events like this are for families and for the future of outdoor recreation in our area.
Most importantly, the event brought smiles, laughter, excitement, and community spirit to North Lake once again. Seeing families gather together and watching the children enjoy the outdoors made the day incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.
The Horseshoe Bend Boating, Fishing & Sportsman’s Club would like to sincerely thank all of the sponsors, volunteers, parents, and supporters who helped make this event possible. Events like this do not happen without community support and dedicated people willing to give their time.
Every year this derby continues to grow and improve, and we cannot wait to see everyone again next year for another wonderful Kids Fishing Derby at North Lake.
