If you ever chance upon a young fisherman who when asked how the fishing is, answers, “Good, I’ve been slayin’ bass all day long,” you should probably pay attention to him.

Thus was the encounter that occurred Saturday with 11-year-old Laithen Dodson at perhaps the 35th Annual Optimist Fishing Derby held at The Lodge on Saturday. Much debate is had amongst the Optimists as to how many derbies have been held. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Diamond Detailing, Commercial Trust, the Braun Homes, The Lodge, and the Fayette Optimist Club, the event drew more than 50 young anglers under the age of 15.

Eleven-year-old Laithen Dodson, accompanied by his dad Joe Dodson, was the young man who had been “slayin’ bass.” Observing young Laithen was quite a treat, as no sooner had those words escaped his lips than young Laithen got a bite. As he battled the fish to the bank the line snapped, leaving Dodson to try to grab what looked to be about a two-foot-long catfish with his hands while standing with one foot in the lake and one on the bank. Unfortunately, the fish was quicker than Laithen. It was not, however, smarter. Less than five minutes later, a loud bit of splashing came from Laithen’s spot on the lake as he had hooked that very same catfish. This time, there would be no escape as Lathen reeled in the beast and released the hook several feet away from the edge of the lake.

Triumphantly, Laithen carried the fish to the opposite corner of the lake, with both arms wrapped tightly around the enormous catfish. The fish was the second-longest catch of the day at a length of 23 inches.

The longest catch of the day, however, did not belong to Laithen. It belonged to Charlee Hubach with a fish that measured 24 inches.

In the 11-15-year-old division, the biggest fish caught, aside from Laithen’s, belonged to Dominick Finn with a length of 13.5 inches. The most fish were caught by Paxtyn Llewellyn with four.

The 6-10-year-old division longest was landed by Easton Shannon at 20.5 inches, while the smallest was caught by Kinsley Hart at 6.25 inches. Paisley Sellars caught the most fish in the division with nine.

Finally, in the category for the youngest participants aged five and under, Everett Stroupe caught the biggest fish at 14.5 inches while Miller Hilderbrand landed the smallest at 6.5 inches. Clay Gladden caught the most fish in this group with 11.

Sean Pridgeon served as the coordinator of the event for the first time this year, with the assistance of “multiple fellow Optimists.”

“I could not have done it without our sponsors and the rest of the Optimists pitching in,” said Pridgeon. We will definitely continue next year.”