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.
