Friday was only the second time ever that Sophia Natividad of Palmerton went fishing and even the chilly, rainy, miserable weather conditions didn’t bring her down.

Especially after what happened.

Natividad was among scores of children who participated in the 69th annual fishing derby for children who have special needs and disadvantages at the Germantown Grove Club in Jim Thorpe. It was Natividad’s second year she was part of the event.

Last year she only caught some “baby fish,” she said.

On Friday, she reeled in a whopping, 17-inch rainbow trout that she needed two hands to hold.

“It’s exciting,” she beamed as she held the fish, standing next to Carter Reis, a high school student who was a volunteer at the derby.,

The derby was hosted by the Germantown Grove Club, said Kim Sargent, event coordinator. She said it’s made possible through numerous sponsors, with the key sponsors being Kresge Electric and American Legion Post 304 of Jim Thorpe.

Sargent said it was a two-day event, with 125 students taking part Thursday (a sunny day) and 65 on Friday in the rain.

Each child came with a support aide. About 100 volunteers of all ages helped at the event.

Participants were assisted while fishing and permitted to keep up to three fish. Members of the Germantown Club gutted and filleted the fish and allowed the children to take them home.

The fishing derby for children with special needs and disadvantages was started 70 years ago by the late Phil Rodgers, a member of the club, as a way of “given special childhood memories,” said Sergent. Fundraising to make the event possible occurs throughout the year. The event has been held every year except one when COVID was rampant.

Pete Mazur, one of the volunteers, said, “Our mission is to provide fishing and the love of outdoors; and to give lasting memories for the children.”

Two sons of Phil Rodgers volunteered at the event. They are Pat Rodgers and Vince Rodgers. Both indicated they are proud of the tradition begun by their father.

The participants, between the ages of 5 and 20, had various disabilities, including some confined to wheelchairs. The volunteers helped the children hold the fishing rods when help was needed, hook the lines and pull in the fish.

Bait was provided.

Refreshments were served to the participants.