The sixth annual Springside Sportsman Club Inc. Zackary Stokes Memorial Kids Fishing Contest drew hundreds of young anglers to Trout Creek.

About 300 children preregistered for the event, with 267 participating, organizers said. Each child was allowed to enter up to five fish, which were measured and weighed.

Awards were given for biggest trout, smallest fish, first golden trout, and quickest catch for boys and girls in age groups 3-8 and 9-15.

Memorial trophies were also presented in honor of local youths, including the Zackary Stokes Trophy for the heaviest fish, Paul Bachman Sr. for the biggest tiger trout, John Palansky Jr. for the biggest brook trout, and Chase Frable for the biggest golden trout.

Jeremai Thibeault, who coordinated this year’s event, worked with fellow club members throughout the week to prepare Trout Creek. Organizers said about 50 dams were built to help keep fish in the creek, and 1,000 trout were stocked ahead of the contest, including one measuring 31 inches.

“We have 50 volunteers helping today for the event,” said Cathleen Fisher, the club’s treasurer. “We have 45 prizes and trophies, 50/50, and a basket raffle. Our big ticket item was a Martin Acoustic Guitar.”

Fisher said the club spends months planning the contest.

“It takes months throughout the year to plan our largest event that we look forward to the most,” she said. “But the real planning picks up in December with sourcing the fish. We split up all the tasks and little by little it all comes together. It’s a lot of work and we’re exhausted by the end, but it’s all worth it to get the kids outside and excited about fishing with their families.”

Participants received a T-shirt and a free lunch of hot dogs, chips, snacks, water, soda and ice cream.

“We have a great turnout today,” said Springside President Lorne Palansky. “This is always a great event with great support from the community. I want to thank the board of directors for putting everything together.”

The Springside Sportsman Club thanked its sponsors, including the Zackary Stokes Memorial Ride, Mickley Fravel Grant, Copeechan Fish & Game Club, Concordia Maennerchor, Northampton County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Northampton County Youth Field Day Foundation, and numerous local businesses, organizations and individuals.

The next event will be the 3rd Annual Zach Stokes Memorial Ride, on Aug. 22, honoring Zackary’s life and raising awareness for mental health. Registration is at 9 a.m. at Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson, 1123 Brick Hill Road, Orwigsburg, ending at Best Station Hotel, 4425 Best Station Road, Slatington.

For information on this event and to donate baskets, please call Pam Stokes at 484-239-0030. All money raised is put into Springside Sportsmen Club Inc., which is a nonprofit. to maintain and stock fish into Trout Creek.

“We strive to increase the excitement of our youth and to give them a productive, healthy outlet to ensure the sport of fishing lives on. This is what Zackary Stokes really enjoyed in his life,” Stokes said.

First place results:

Biggest Golden at 22 inches, Bryson Hughes.

Biggest Tiger at 21 5/8 inches, Anthony Kedbrick.

Biggest Brookie at 15.5 inches, Cole Gable.

Heaviest limit at 15.2 pounds, Callie Weber.

Boys 3-8: Barre H. Gross, 24.5 inches.

Boys 9-15: Colton Montz, 24 1/8 inches.

Girls 3-8: Callie Weber, 24 inches

Girls 9-15: Kilee Rinker, 22 1/2 inches.

Smallest fish:

Boys 3-8, Easton Palanskey, 9 5/8 inches

Boys 9-15, Ethan Propson, 7 1/4 inches

Girls 3-8, Blake Joseph, 10 3/4 inches.

Girls, 9-15, Ellie Walters, 9 1/2 inches.

First golden:

Boys 3-8, Abour Jaili.

Boys 9-15, Oliver Bartholomew.

Girls 3-8, Kenzie Cruz.

Girls 9-15, Dallyce Muitzler.

Quickest limit:

Boys 3-8 years, Charlie Althouse.

Boys 9-15 years, Mason Cruz.

Girls 3-8, Callie Weber.

Girls 9-15, Skyla Saas.