| Free
fishing day is held
Saturday June 11, 2016, was the 28th annual Kid’s Fishing Day on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. It was a great day of fishing at Wilkins’ Pond, located on the Camas Prairie outside of Grangeville. This year, 35 kids registered for the event. The event was sponsored by the Salmon River Ranger District, Cottonwood Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The Grangeville Lions Club donated money and their time to make the event a success. They grilled up free hot dogs and gave away soda and water. Their money donation went toward prizes purchased at Rae Brothers, Crema Café and Blue Fox Theater. Bigger prizes were awarded to kids for the biggest fish, second biggest fish, smallest fish and the winners of the casting contests. Random drawing prizes went to lucky winners for fishing poles, fishing tackle, movie passes, and gift certificates. The fish cooperated this year as well. In the 8 and under age group, the smallest fish was caught by Nevada Johnson. Addisyn Vanderwall, of Grangeville, caught the first fish in her age group. Fishing buddies Addisyn Vanderwall and Caryss Barger caught the largest fishes, at 19 inches long. Winner of the casting contest was Erin Maniford of Grangeville. In the 9 to 12 age group, Connor Forsman caught the smallest fish. A four way tie for the biggest fish went to Abigail Pikyaui, Wislon Lareby, Emma Roach and Zach Roach, at 18.5 inches! Winner of the casting contest was Connor Forsman, also of Grangeville. Special thanks go to Jeff and Carla Wilkins for allowing us to use their pond again this year. A big thanks go to the Grangeville Lions Club, Rae Brothers Sporting Goods, Blue Fox Theater and Crema Café for the donations of time and gifts to the event. Thanks to the many folks than helped out to make the day a success: IDFG – Ethan Bishop, Nic DeBolt, and Randy Sullivan; BLM – Craig Johnson; Forest Service - Al Wisdom, Hailey Fuller, Heidi Holubetz, Josh Dame, Kevin Teats, Liz Shellenbarger, Tanner Mawhinney and Frances Derezes. Eric Merten, Fisheries Biologist, Red River Ranger District, said they had a handful of kids and mostly adults at Karolyn’s Pond near Red River. “Everyone had a good time in spite of the cool, windy weather. Fish were biting readily, mainly on worms. Many thanks to the Idaho Fish & Game folks, District Ranger Terry Nevius and Brooks Beegle for helping out.” Ann Bonaparte, Moose Creek Ranger District, shared it was a very successful fishing day at the Fenn Pond event located on the Selway River, “There was 20 kids fishing until near the end of the event when 35 more kids came by and joined in.” The district supplied some of the prizes and handouts and would like to thank Nelson Landry for supplying the finger sandwiches and munchies. Roger Westfall from Idaho Fish & Game said, “Catch rates started off slow, but by 10:30 the fish were biting pretty good, one young girl got her limit of six fish in 30 minutes, and all who put in 15 minutes at least caught one fish. Everyone liked the new fishing docks and walkways, it will be nice when the grass gets reestablished.” 
A young lady gets her fish measured for the contest. 
Patiently waiting for a fish to strike. |
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