Thanks to All who Celebrated the 70th Annual Riverton Fishing Derby!
Saturday, April 13th, 2019
6 AM to 10 AM in Riverton, CT
This year’s Riverton Fishing Derby celebrated the 70th Annual Fishing Derby, held on Saturday, April 13th on the West branch of the Farmington River (Sponsored by the Barkhamsted Historical Society )– beginning with the traditional hearty pancake breakfast at 4 a.m. at the Riverton Fire Department and then punctuated by the Riverton Fishing Derby at 6:00 AM. and then awarded a bevy of outstanding prizes when the derby ended at 10:00 AM.
This historic fishing derby has been running since 1949 with generations of families enjoying this tradition year after year. To be able to sustain this derby into the future the ability to engage our young fisherman and fisherwomen is key. With that, the town of Riverton with help from The Trophy Trout Club took a special interest in improving the kid’s derby sections as well as the derby as a whole. Special thanks to Tony Fillie, for coordinating the donations & organizing the kid’s derby logistics!
Last year a second section of the river was secured for kids only. The addition of the area owned and generously donated by Gil Dube now allowed for kids ten and under to enjoy the derby in a safer location. The ten and under section was held at Zak’s Pool just upstream from the Town Bridge. This is in addition to the 16 and under section just under the Town Bridge. The Trophy Trout Club had members at the 10 and under section helping the families that attend. This year The Riverton General Store donated bait for the 10 and under section to assist the kids attending in catching those wily trout. Also, new this year there was a special 10 and under awards ceremony held at 9:00 AM on the river at Zak’s Pool.
Having two secure areas as “kids only” is the first step in setting up a fishing derby that both children and adults can enjoy. The second step is to enhance the ability of everyone attending to actually catch some amazing trout. With that goal in mind, The Trophy Trout Club wanted to thank the sponsors including CT. Horse Cremation, Supreme Industries, Inc., The Farmington River Anglers Association FRAA, HK Dairy Barn, friends of the fishing derby, and a number of other valued sponsors. Thanks to these generous companies and individuals to again raise enough funds to match last year when we stocked the most trout that has ever been stocked for the derby to date.
On behalf of the Town of Riverton, the Barkhamsted Historical Society, and the Trophy Trout Club thanks all the families and individuals that came out to enjoy a fabulous day outdoors celebrating one of Connecticut’s greatest fishing traditions.
Adult Fishing Derby Results & Prizes

GRAND PRIZE
Gino Musumano | Rainbow Trout, 8lbs 5oz. 24″ long
Hand-crafted Hitchcock rocking chair and $75 certificate towards replica mount. Donated by Riverton Merchants, the Trophy Trout Club, Hitchcock Chair.

1ST PLACE
Steve Cherhoniak | Rainbow Trout, 8lbs 24″ long
Half-day guided tour of the Farmington River. Donated by Orvis.

2ND PLACE
Yarmouth Mclellan | Rainbow Trout, 7lbs 8oz 23″ long
Combo rod, fishing net, and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

3RD PLACE
Peter Sebben | Rainbow Trout, 7lbs 7oz 24″ long
Combo rod and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

4TH PLACE
John Bell Antuono | Rainbow Trout, 7lbs 5oz 221/2” long
Fishing net and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

5TH PLACE
Kylie Foryan | Rainbow Trout, 6lbs 6oz 213/4” long
Four tickets and four shirts to the Still River Music Festival. Donated by the Still River Music Festival.

6TH PLACE
John Machowski Jr. | Rainbow Trout, 6lbs 3oz 24″ long
Combo rod and tackle bag. Donated by Upcountry.

7TH PLACE
Remy Misani Jr. | Rainbow Trout, 5lbs 12oz 223/4” long
Tea gift basket and $50 gift certificate to the Riverton Inn. Donated in memory of Scotty Allen by the Riverton Inn.

8TH PLACE
David Ragali | Rainbow Trout, 5lbs 9oz 22″ long
Tea gift basket. Donated by the Riverton Inn.

9TH PLACE
Matthew Amenta | Rainbow Trout, 5lbs 8oz 22″ long
$50 gift certificate to Northwest Sporting Goods. Donated by Northwest Sporting Goods.

10TH PLACE
Tom Savage | Rainbow Trout, 5lbs 7oz 211/4” long
Combo rod. Donated in loving memory of Robert Sulkazi.
Youth Fishing Derby Results & Prizes

1ST PLACE
Cillian Josef | Rainbow Trout, 4lbs 4oz 201/2” long
Combo rod, fishing net, and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

2ND PLACE
Julia Parent | Rainbow Trout, 2lbs 6oz 18″ long
Combo rod and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

3RD PLACE
Morgan Artibani | Rainbow Trout, 2lbs 1oz 161/2” long
Combo rod, fishing net, and tackle bag. Donated by Friends of the Derby.

4TH PLACE
Griffen Geraghty | Rainbow Trout, 15oz 13″ long
Combo rod and tackle bag. Donated by the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department.