The OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby Returns to Peterborough this April
/The OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby is back to the Peterborough Lift Lock for its 37th year starting April 25.
Photo by david tuan bui.
Peterborough Blogs
Anglers Casting Their Lines For the 36th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby Starting April 26
/The 36th annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby is back for 2025 and kicks off on April 26 at the Peterborough Lift Lock.
GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY CO-CHAIR, holds Walter before throwing him into the canal. This is Bowley’s 25th year helping the fishing derby. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
The first day features the youth derby for children 15 and under, featuring goody bags, a hot dog lunch, 500 stocked trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. The all-ages derby starts on April 27 and runs through May 4.
“This community partnership provides anglers more chances to win, while helping to offset the cost of stocked trout for the youth derby," said Annie Layfield, OFAH Program Support Specialist.
Top prize fish ‘Walter’ returns and $1,000 cash goes to the lucky angler who catches the big rainbow trout, estimated to weigh between five and eight pounds. A second grand prize of $500 cash is being awarded to whoever catches ‘Gordon’ in honour of longtime volunteer Gordon Bowley.
New this year is the first-annual high school derby on May 1.
“We’re excited to offer high school students a chance to try their luck at trout fishing. The day includes five hours of fishing, lunch, instant prizes and a chance to catch tagged fish for cash prizes,” said Layfield.
Registration is required for all participants and can be completed online or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations. Those who register by Thursday are eligible for some of the $4,000 in early bird prizes.
“We’re looking forward to seeing both familiar faces and new participants,” said Layfield. “The derby is a great way to bring the community together and get kids excited about fishing and the outdoors.”
3,000 Trout Released Into 35th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby a Go Starting April 27
/There were 3,000 trout released into the Lift Locks ahead of the 35th annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby including top-prize rainbow trout ‘Walter’ on Wednesday.
GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY CO-CHAIR, holds Walter before throwing him into the canal. This is Bowley’s 25th year helping the fishing derby. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
Of the 3,000, 2,500 of them are rainbow trout and the other 500 are brook trout, tagged for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes for the youth derby.
The event runs from April 27 to May 5. The youth derby, for children 15 and under, kicks off on the first day.
Walter, a six to eight-pound rainbow trout as the top prize, will earn $1,000 cash to whoever can reel him in.
The second and third-place grand prize fish ‘Rosie’ and ‘Berty’ are each worth $200 cash plus a free registration to OFAH day camp. The fourth grand prize ‘Kayak’ wins a sit-on kayak and paddle.
Nick Pellerin tosses a netful of trout into the Lift Lock to prepare for the fishing derby. Photo by David Tuan bui.
The all-ages derby will run from April 28 through May 5. For the third year, it will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.
Registration is required for all participants. Admission is $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets online or in person at both Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
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35th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby a Go Starting April 27
/The 35th annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby is ready for another big year as it returns from April 27 to May 5, announced on Friday.
BUMSTEAD (LEFT) CAUGHT WALTER AFTER HIS THIRD CAST NOT A HALF AN HOUR INTO THE DERBY last year. HIS STEPFATHER JUSTIN DESBARBIEUX (RIGHT) DID IT two years ago, FIVE DAYS INTO THE EVENT. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
“Back by popular demand are early bird registration prizes, goody bags, a hot dog lunch for the kids, and sponsored tagged fish with cash prizes for anglers of all ages to win,” said David Ryrie, OFAH youth education manager.
The youth derby kicks off on April 27 for children 15 and under. It includes 500 tagged trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes.
The big fish prize of $1,000 cash will go to whoever catches Walter, a rainbow trout estimated to weigh between six and eight pounds.
Travis Parker and Justin Desbarbieux have caught Walter three years in a row. Desbarbieux’s stepson, Benjamin Bumstead, caught it in record time last year, less than half an hour.
The second and third-place grand prize fish ‘Rosie’ and ‘Berty’ are each worth $200 cash plus a free registration to OFAH day camp. The fourth grand prize (appropriately named ‘Kayak’) wins a sit-on kayak and paddle.
The all-ages derby will run from April 28 through May 5. For the third year, it will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.
“We still have fish in need of a local sponsor that will both challenge anglers and offset the cost of the stocked Trout for the youth derby,” said Ryrie.
Registration is required for all participants. Admission is $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets online or in person at both Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
The fish are being released into the canal on April 24 at 1 p.m.
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10-Year Old-Boy Catches "Walter" One Year After Stepfather Snags Fish At OFAH Fishing Derby
/Like father, like son, as 10-year-old Ben Bumstead has caught the top prize ‘Walter,’ at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby one year after his stepfather Justin Desbarbieux did it on a gloomy Saturday morning at the Peterborough Lift Lock.
Bumstead (left) caught Walter after his third cast not a half-an-hour into the derby. His stepfather Justin Desbarbieux (right) did it last year, five days into the event. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Bumstead caught Walter, the prized rainbow trout that weighs roughly eight to 10 lbs. at a length of 20-24 inches. He caught it after his third cast less than 30 minutes into the event. He snagged Walter with worm bait near the train turn bridge just beside the barrier netting. Bumstead was overjoyed when he found out it was Walter.
“I felt like I could do a backflip,” he exclaimed.
“ I couldn't wait for him to run up to the stage and tell everyone how he just caught Walter,” said Desbarbieux.
The father-son duo was present at Wednesday’s fish release where all the rainbow trout were put into the canal in preparation for the event.
Bumstead gave himself an ‘extra advantage’ prior to Walter being tossed into the water.
“I touched his tail for good luck and I said to the guy, ‘I'm catching Walter this year,’” explained Bumstead.
Desbarbieux caught Walter last year and has participated in the fishing derby since he was a child. Photo by David Tuan bui.
The two have bonded well over the years as Desbarbieux came into Bumstead’s life at an early age. The two often go hunting and fishing together and call each other father and son. Desbarbieux says he had a ‘proud father’ moment, seeing Bumstead catch Walter.
“You got to love it, especially so early in the derby like that,” he said. “It’s a very proud moment for the kids for sure, you got to love it.”
The Norwood District Public School student is walking away with the grand prize of $1,000 cash and gets to keep Walter. Bumstead said he was splitting some of the money with his early childhood friend but has no plans with the remainder of the cash as of yet.
The derby began Saturday with the youth event — for children 15 and under — at 9 a.m. and the all-ages kicking off Sunday at 9 a.m. and runs until May 7. It includes 25 tagged fish, each with a $200 cash prize sponsored by local businesses.
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'Walter' Released Into Canal Ahead of the 34th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby
/The first school of fish arrived at the Peterborough Lift Lock as top prize rainbow trout ‘Walter’ was released into the water on Wednesday afternoon to help kick off the 34th Annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby.
GORDON BOWLEY, FISHING DERBY co-CHAIR toses one of 30 trout that went into the Lift Lock canal on WEdnesday afternoon. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
Walter is a rainbow trout weighing roughly eight to 10 lbs. at a length of 20-24 inches. Anyone who catches him gets the grand prize of $1,000. There are 500 tagged trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. Instant prizes include fishing nets, tackle boxes, fishing rods and other fishing gear.
This is the second consecutive year the derby has run since the COVID-19 pandemic. It took a two-year hiatus prior to its return last year.
“Fishing season for trout opened last weekend so we're near the beginning of the season and for me, it's my psychological rehabilitation over a long cold winter,” laughed Gordon Bowley, OFAH fishing derby co-chair.
Walter returns as the top prize fish earning the angler who catches him $1,000. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
The derby begins this Saturday with the youth event — for children 15 and under — at 9 a.m. and the all-ages kicking off Sunday at 9 a.m. and runs until May 7. It includes 25 tagged fish, each with a $200 cash prize sponsored by local businesses.
Registration is required for all participants, just $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults.
Tickets can be purchased online at ofah.org/underthelock or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
“This is a great opportunity to be outside,” said Bowley. “It's a great year to be doing it and we're so glad to do it again for our second year after the pandemic.
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34th Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby Returns to Peterborough
/The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby has returned for its 34th edition running from April 29 to May 7 at the canal near the Peterborough Lift Lock for anglers to real in fish for prizes announced on Tuesday.
THERE WERE 3,000 FISH DUMPED INTO THE CANAL LAST year TO LAUNCH The event. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
The youth derby begins on April 29 for children 15 and under. There are 500 tagged trout for instant prizes and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. The top prize fish prize of $1,000 goes to whoever catches Walter, an eight-to-ten-pound rainbow trout.
“Back by popular demand are early bird registration prizes, a hot dog lunch for the kids, and sponsored tagged fish with cash prizes for anglers of all ages to win,” said David Ryrie, OFAH youth education manager.
The all-ages derby in its second includes tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.
“We still have fish in need of a local sponsor that will both challenge anglers and offset the cost of the stocked Trout for the youth derby,” said Ryrie.
Registration is required for all participants. $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings, and $25 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
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Hundreds of Anglers Reeling for 'Walter' In Fishing Derby's Return After Two-Year Hiatus
/After a two-year hiatus, the 33rd Annual Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Under the Lock Fishing Derby kicked off with their youth event — for children 15 and under — on Saturday morning.
Photo courtesy of Neil Morton.
Hundreds of young anglers showed up to catch one of 3,000 fish that were released into the canal including the famed grand-prize “Walter,” a rainbow trout weighing roughly eight to 10 pounds. Anyone who caught Walter would walk away with $1,000 cash.
The all-ages derby runs from May 1 to 8 and includes 18 tagged fish, each with a $200 cash prize sponsored by local businesses.
The event was postponed for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo courtesy of Neil Morton.
Registration is required for all participants: $15 for the first child, $10 for siblings and $25 for adults.
The OFAH headquarters is in Peterborough.
3,000 Fish Released Into Canal To Launch 33rd Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby
/The Peterborough Lift Lock canal got more lively as members of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) dumped 3,000 fish into the water to launch the 33rd Annual Under the Lock Fishing Derby on Wednesday.
Top-prize fish ‘Walter’ is being released into the Lift Lock Canal by David Ryrie, OFAH director of communications (left) and Gordon Bowley, fishing derby chairman (right). Walter is a rainbow trout weighing from eight to 10 pounds. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
