Anglers enjoy bright blue sky day at Camp Blue Skies fishing derby fundraiser.

22 participants and eleven pro guides enjoyed plenty of blue skies, big catches, tasty BBQ, and baked goodies for a great cause during our Hooked On Camp fundraiser on Sept. 25-26 at YMCA Camp Harrison.  The annual event for anglers benefits our camps for adults with developmental disabilities and raises money for our Send a Camper to Camp fund.

There’s nothing like the anticipation of casting your line into Lake Broyhill on a crisp, clear morning. The boats headed out just after 7:30 am. Once the fog lifted, a gorgeous blue sky created the perfect day for quality fishing time. Our dedicated anglers caught and released over 640 fish!

Reel ’em in, weigh ’em out

After the morning on the water, it was time for the official weigh-in. Our anglers and the guides showed off their skills and packed the leaderboard with impressive catches. Congratulations to the winners of the day (besides our campers): 

1st Place Big 5 Bass: 11.6 lbs. by Team Harker (Hunter Reid, Justin Willard, and Captain Michelle Armstrong)

2nd Place Big 5 Bass: 11.05 lbs. by Team Redline-1 (Brooks Runkle, Graham Rabon and Captain Eric Crumley)

1 st Place Total Caught: 91 by Team Hoar (Bryan Katzenmaier, Richard Coen, and Captain John Martin

2nd Place Total Caught: 69 by Team Garmon (Mark Holman, Shayne Hilbert, and Captain Troy Armstrong)

Largest Bass: 3.12 lbs. by Huiet England

Largest Blue Gill: 1.65 lbs. by Brooks Runkle

Smallest Bass: 0.01 lbs. by Richark Coen

Inspiring words and great results

Hooked On Camp isn’t just about fishing and food; it’s also a time to connect and inspire. Our Executive Director, Kim Conroy, shared her vision for Camp Blue Skies, while Carolyn Sampson and Brandon Burrows, two of our beloved campers, share what their favorite aspects of camp included.

Ultimately, the derby isn’t just about fishing; it’s about raising funds for a great cause. Thanks to your support, we raised over $35,000 for our Send a Camper to Camp fund. That means more smiles, laughter, and unforgettable experiences for campers who need it most.

Special thanks to our supporters

CEI: Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Cable East, for your generosity in supporting our campers and programming.

Tomey BBQ:  A massive shout-out to Brian Tomey, who smoked the BBQ on site for 24 hours and treated us to mouthwatering Que.

John Martin and True South Lures: Your prizes added extra excitement to our derby.

Gerflor: Tomey’s BBQ sauce was the perfect takeaway for our guests.

A Reason to Bake: Elise and Carolyn, the delicious gluten-free carrot cake and pumpkin spice cupcakes that delighted our taste buds.

Chris Carnes and Riley Catch: Thank you for recruiting our wonderful Captains and coordinating the tournament!

Boat Captains: Thank you all for giving of your time and equipment to make the tournament happen! WE APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU!

YMCA Camp Harrison: A huge shout-out to the staffers who made the day easy and breezy.