Fishing Derby Tournament Planning Tips & Event Giveaway Ideas

Ideas and tips for planning a successful fishing derby this summer season.

A fishing derby is a fun event for kids & families to get out and enjoy the weather during the lazy summer months. With a little research and planning, you can create an event that reels them in year after year.

Choose a location for your tournament

Choose a waterfront that has plenty of open space for participants, spectators, and volunteers. A small stocked pond or lake is best for fishing derbies geared for kids-only events, while rivers and larger lakes may be a better option for adult amateur fishermen. Get permission from parks and recreation or the owner of the land to have the event there. In most cases you will need to apply for a special permit or insurance. Do your research on the rules and regulations and contact your state’s department of natural resources for info on fishing licenses, tags, and permits prior to arranging your event.

Timing: Avoid event conflicts

Before choosing your date, make sure that there are no other conflicting events going on in the area the same weekend. If there happens to be a county fair or town festival, see if you can make your fishing derby part of that larger event. The beginning of June is National Fishing Week and a great time to host a fishing-related event!

How to promote your fishing derby

Create a website to promote your event—and keep it running all year. If you aren’t skilled in website building, reach out to volunteers and sponsors to see if someone can help.

If you are not able to create a site, submit your event to other websites like the local chamber of commerce, park districts, and churches, asking them to add it to their community calendars. Add your event to sports registration sites like Active.com, as well as your local Facebook “What’s Happening” page. Speaking of Facebook, create a group or event page.

Don’t forget about print ads! Hang signs and banners in local business storefront windows or on any community bulletin boards, like those you might find at a library or village hall. If you have sponsors, ask for them to promote your event on their website and communications.

Whatever marketing mediums you use, include photos of last year’s fishing derby, start/end date, award categories, location, cost, registration details, and other event info like what to wear, bring, and participant expectations.

Need some fishing derby planning ideas? The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation offers marketing materials and event planning information.

Get all your rentals in order

Chairs and tables will need to be rented or borrowed. Consider renting a tent; it provides shade for volunteer workers or participants during those hot summer days. If you choose a location that does not have rest rooms, you may need to rent portable toilets.

Make catering or food arrangements

Arrange for plenty of water, or other beverages, and snacks. Want to stretch your fishing derby budget? Find a sponsor to donate food and drinks. You can either do a buffet style food table, or to save some event day set-up, pre-pack individual lunch bags.

Awards & Raffle Giveaways

Offering awards is a terrific way to reward participants. Try to offer awards in different age groups or categories. Awards for heaviest fish or smallest fish add an element of fun and competition. Order trophies, ribbons or plaques with the event name, date, and location. You may also want to give away a participant ribbon for everyone who signs up, especially for kid’s fishing derbies. In addition, raffle and door prizes are a fun addition to any event, and anyone can win!

Need giveaways? Consider photo souvenirs.

Want quality photos of your fishing derby? Hire a professional photographer, or consider hiring a photo booth company that does open-air photo booths. If you cannot afford to hire a professional, find a volunteer or hobbyist photographer.

Photo souvenirs are great keepsake items for participants. Customize an inexpensive paper photo folder or cardboard frame to giveaway. In addition, these photos are also great marketing tools to promote your event next year! Take candid shots of the fishermen in action, as well as posed shots with their catch. For kid’s events, have a volunteer dress up in costume as a fish or another fun character.

Always bring back-up supplies

Make sure to supply live bait or fishing lures. You may also want to have back-up poles and other essentials just in case, particularly if you’re planning a fishing derby for kids.

Take it a step further for charity

Want to take your derby a step further? Use your event’s popularity to raise money for a local charity. Sponsorships will greatly help offset tournament costs, leaving you more funds to donate to your chosen non-profit.

Good luck—and have fun!

The key to a successful fishing derby is getting people to participate year after year—and having them invite others to compete with them. If you plan it right, families will want to make it an annual event that they look forward to participating in.

Each fishing derby is as unique as its director and volunteers. With a strong team and creative vision, your fishing derby can be a memorable community event.