25th Annual Take a Kid Fishing Day
The 25TH Annual Take a Kid Fishing Day was held on Saturday,
June 6TH at the Mel Rieman Recreation Area on Lake Ashtabula in conjunction with National Fishing Week. Twenty kids, ages
6 – 10, from the Barnes County area participated in a variety of educational programs and hands on fishing experience.
There were 17 volunteers from 3 different agencies that helped run the event. These agencies were the Corps of Engineers, Barnes County Wildlife Federation, and the Valley City Women of Today.
Activities included a casting game which helped teach the kids proper casting techniques. Prizes were given to the most accurate casters in all 5 age groups. Dillon Thomas, co-op student ranger at the Baldhill Dam Project Office, set up the portable dam to educate the kids on the danger of the current below dams. Kids got to tie themselves a fishing spinner made from scratch, which they proudly kept to show their parents. The spinner station was held in the picnic shelter.
The weather very nice until 11:00 when a strong shower set in. Fifteen minutes later the rain passed and we continued with the event. The kids fished from the docks along the shoreline by the Baldhill Grill & Chill Resort and the Corps courtesy dock. The kids caught a few perch, many smallmouth bass,bullheads, and one pumpkinseed sunfish.
Lunch was provided with hotdogs, chips, pop, and ice cream bars enjoyed by all. All 20 kids received a rod/reel combo, fishing lures, and a take home bag containing different coloring books and water safety material provided by the Corps, NDG&F Dept., and Berkley Tackle. Each kid also got to take home their own tackle box with various tackle included. I especially want to thank the Barnes County Wildlife Federation for sponsoring this event and providing the volunteers and funding to make this event an annual success.
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