Northern Berkshire County Juvenile P.O. Shares
Fishing Passion with Court-Involved Youth

A Berkshire County Probation Officer turned a generous donation of equipment and his love for fishing and the outdoors into what has become an annual fishing derby for court-involved and underprivileged children.

Nearly 400 children have participated in Alex Daugherty’s fishing derbies since he first started them in 1998 through the Northern Berkshire County Juvenile Court Probation Department. Several teenagers, who fished in the derbies when they were younger, have even returned to help teach the current participants. The next fishing derby is scheduled for June 24th at Reynold’s Pond in Chesire. There are also derbies scheduled for July and August.

Daugherty, a nine-year Probation Officer, was bequeathed a gift of fishing equipment from an anonymous donor who provided the equipment on the condition that Daugherty developed youth programming. The equipment included 40 fishing poles, reels, and tackle. He even began offering fishing as an activity to children before he became a Probation Officer. He shared his love of angling with children in after-school programs in the local public school system.

An avid outdoorsman, Daugherty knew that fishing and learning to appreciate nature would serve as a bridge for young people to a more positive environment.

“I wanted to introduce the children to the outdoors and nature. A lot of the kids don’t get out. There is the camaraderie, competition and the thrill of catching a fish,” said Daugherty.

“Alex, Dan Turner and other P.O.’s have enjoyed working with their clients while in the outdoors. These derbies are another way to show these clients that we understand how tough it can be to grow up these days but there are positive activities they can enjoy without drugs and alcohol,” said Chief Probation Officer William Gale.

The children, participating in the derby, fish at local lakes that are stocked with donated trout. The fishing holes include Wild Acres in Pittsfield, Reynold’s Pond in Chesire and Windsor Lake in North Adams.

Daugherty hosts a graduation for the participants and the children get the opportunity to earn prizes for first fish caught, biggest fish, and smallest fish.

“I started fishing with Alex and the guys when I was 13. I learned a lot from them,” said A.J., a former Youthful Offender who is 19 years old and is no longer court-involved. A.J. caught the “State Record” catfish, the largest recorded in the state last year.

Daugherty learned to love fishing at an early age himself. His father, a longshoreman on the Hudson River of New York, moved his family to the Berkshires when Daugherty was six years old. Daughtery’s uncles, “big outdoorsmen,” introduced him to fishing and hiking. “They were real mentors to me,” said Daugherty, who along with his wife will be honored next month by a local group for their extensive involvement with community charity efforts.

“It is good to offer other alternatives to children, not just sports. Anyone can fish. Boys or girls. There is no physical or age limitation,” Daugherty said.