By PETE FONTAINE

It’s a tradition unlike any other as far as the Tri-City Elks are concerned.

It features family fun, fishing, food and valuable volunteers who Saturday transformed Lodge 14’s famous Golden Pond off Rossi Drive into the Trout Fishing Capital of Rhode Island.

From 7 a.m. until 11 o’clock, a total of almost three dozen children ages 5 to 12 baited their hooks and cast their lines – in some cases with help from moms and dads – to reel in the largest fish during the Tri-City Elks ageless Trout Derby.

In the age group for kids ages 5 to 8, Olivia Smith had the largest fish that David Brown measured at 13 5/8 inches long.

In the category for kids ages 9 to 12, two boys - Caleb Del Cesto, 12, and Lucas Blagburn, 12, shared top honors with their respective catches that measured 14 inches in length and highlighted the day’s two dozen trout that were taken from Golden Pond which was again stocked with trout courtesy of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

All three division winners received a spanking new fishing rod courtesy of Thomas Giddings, who has long supported the Elks Trout Derby and owns and operates the Tacklebox located off West Shore Road in the Conimicut section of Warwick.

But each and every angler was a winner Saturday, as Lodge 14 sent each boy and girl home with a spiffy trophy and provided not one but two food sessions Saturday.

“Wow, these Elks are really, really special,” exclaimed several people who came to cheer on their favorite youth angler. “We need more kids-oriented events like this. These people really epitomize their creed of Elks Care, Elks Share.”

For example, there was hot chocolate, coffee and donuts prior to the 7 o’clock start and featured hots dogs, potato chips and soda for young and old alike at conclusion of the fun-filled fishing tourney.

In keeping with Lodge 14’s tradition, 10 Elks volunteered to make sure the day was fun for all participants as well as their parents.

For example, Past Exalted Ruler Bon Hartington cooked the hot dogs while Jen Jenn Brulett and PER Lori Eaton served as a two-person welcoming/greeting committee and registered the anglers.

Likewise, David Brown had the honor of measuring each and every trout taken while Merrick Leach and Bruce Martel - two of Lodge 14’s valuable volunteers – helped each of the kids with their bait and morning’s catches.