Father's Day fishing derby brings out dads and kids

The lure of the lake made Father’s Day special for Sean Joyce and his two boys.

Joyce, along with 14-year-old Declan and Finn, celebrating his 12th birthday, were among the hundreds at Twin Lakes Park, straddling the border between Unity and Latrobe for Westmoreland County’s annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby.

“They love to fish. They caught the bug last summer, and now they absolutely love it,” said Joyce, 54, of Penn Township.

Three generations of Joyce men cast lines Sunday morning. Robert Hadfield, 72, of Kennedy came out to fish with his grandsons and son-in-law.

It’s an activity that’s been a constant in Hadfield’s life and part of a family tradition.

“I’ve been fishing since I was 7,” Hadfield said. “I started with my grandfather, and we’d go to Canada two weeks every year to fish. He got me hooked. I just wanted to pass on this crazy fishing business that I learned from my grandpop.”

Westmoreland County for decades has held its annual derby in conjunction with the day set aside for fathers, sons and daughters.

Chris Panichella, parks director for Westmoreland County’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation, said the free derby has been held since the late 1980s and attracts dads and kids from throughout the region to cast their lines for trout, bass, blue gill and other fish stocked in the park’s two lakes.

“We expect about 100 fish to be caught today,” Panichella said.

For fishers, the derby was an opportunity to spend time with their fathers and grandfathers, sons and daughters.

Elias Thompson and his daughter Ali, 11, traveled from Harrisburg to fish in Westmoreland County’s derby. They’ve made the trip since 2019, with Ali winning prizes three times for having caught some of the largest fish pulled out of the lake.

“This is just special for me and maybe for her too. We get to come out here and spend the weekend together as father and daughter,” Thompson said.

Kayla Fillar, 18, of Herminie came out to fish with dad, Walt. It’s something the Fillars have done for more than a decade.

“He taught me how to fish and I love it. Fishing is always something we do together. My dad loves to fish so we let him pick what he wants to do on Father’s Day. I said if it was raining we’d go bowling instead, but it’s nice today,” Fillar said.

Men and women of all ages cast lines Sunday morning.

Joe Bednar, 53, and his father, Ken, 76, both of North Huntingdon, came out to fish at the derby. They’ve fished together eight to 10 times so far this season.

“We enjoy doing this together. Today just happened that it landed on Father’s Day and this worked out since I got the day off from work today,” Joe Bednar said.

And for some, there was a little boasting on the lake banks.

Jaxson Kesterholt, 8, of Plum couldn’t wait to let his dad, Ryan, know who’s the better fisherman.

“I outfish him every time,” Jaxson said.

For Ryan Kesterholt, fishing with his son is just part of the family tradition.

“It’s great to spend some time with him,” he said. “Being able to pass this tradition down, teach him how to catch, keep and throw back fish is important.”