Imagine reeling in a monster 28.5-pound freshwater drum from the murky depths of Lake Champlain—on Father’s Day, no less—using nothing but grit, a rod, and a kid’s unyielding optimism. That’s exactly what 10-year-old Grayson Carey did during the International Father’s Day Derby, shattering Vermont’s state record for the species as certified by Fish and Wildlife. Not only did this pint-sized angler bag over $26,000 in prizes, but he also thrust the spotlight onto freshwater drum, those rugged, underdog natives often dismissed as trash fish despite their prehistoric toughness and fight. In a world obsessed with trophy bass or elusive salmon, Carey’s haul reminds us that real records are forged in the shadows, where persistence trumps hype.
For the 2A community, this story hits like a well-placed shot: it’s a masterclass in self-reliance, family bonding, and celebrating the overlooked warriors of the wild. Just as we champion everyday carry pistols or trusty AR-15s over flashy exotics, Grayson bypassed the glamour species to target a fish that’s thrived in Vermont’s waters for millennia, battling invasives and pollution with built-in resilience. Lake Champlain’s derby scene, much like our range days or hunting trips, fosters generational skills—Dad teaching Junior the art of the cast, much like passing down trigger time and safety fundamentals. With Vermont’s outdoors under pressure from overregulation, this record underscores why access to public lands and waters is non-negotiable; it’s where kids like Grayson learn that freedom means harvesting nature’s bounty, not just scrolling feeds.
The implications ripple wider: as anti-hunting sentiments grow, stories like this humanize conservation, proving that youth engagement sustains species and traditions. For 2A folks, it’s a rallying cry—defend the rights that let families fish, hunt, and shoot without Big Brother’s boot. Grayson’s drum didn’t break records by accident; it was earned through preparation and pluck, echoing the ethos that armed citizens are the ultimate underdogs, ready to tip the scales when it counts. Next Father’s Day, grab the rods (and rifles), hit the water, and chase your own Champlain drum—because in the pursuit of liberty, every pull on the line counts.
