Q&A: Claremore kids share their secrets to fishing success at youth derby

This Fourth of July, kids at Claremore Lake weren’t just celebrating—they were fishing, learning, and proving that patience really does pay off. We caught up with some of the youngest pros at the annual Youth Fishing Derby to hear their tips and tricks.

Q: How long does it take to catch a fish?

Liam: "You got to wait a hundred seconds...then there will be a fish."

Q: Is this your first time fishing?

Liam: "I have not fished before and this is my first day to fish. I have caught two.”

Q: What happens when you catch one?

Charli: "If it were on the ground, it would be doing the worm."

Q: How do you know there’s a fish on the line?

Charli: "You are waiting for it to go down in the lake, that means there is a fish or a turtle that's trying to eat the worm."

Q: Got any technique advice?

Atlas: "You hold the button and then you just let go of the line."

Q: And after that?

Atlas: "Have patience and wait for the fish to bite."

Q: What’s the first step to getting started?

Fisher: "First you get the pole rigged up, you have to put whatever size hook on it. If you want to catch a tiny fish, you got to put a little one on. And then you got to put some bait on."

Q: What does it feel like when a fish bites?

Fisher: "It's tugging like when you’re playing tug of war with your dog, it feels like that."

From the shoreline at Claremore Lake to the stories behind every catch, these young anglers reminded us that fishing isn’t just about fish. It’s about having fun—and patience, too.