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By: Don Martin, Government Liaison, Mohave Sportsman Club
There were smiles aplenty and squeals of delight rang out from all around the pond on an unseasonably cool June morning as over 175 kids ages 5 through 15 participated in the annual Kids Fishing Day 2005
program.
Throughout the half-day program, which featured a Kasting Kids Karnival, plus an interactive fishing video game furnished by the Arizona Game & Fish Department, kids had plenty to do.
The weather was perfect for the event, which saw kids lining up at the check in station before 5 a.m.
The good weather didn’t exactly equate to good fishing though. Despite some intense angling, only 75 catfish, most weighing over three pounds, were caught. Three rainbow trout and a couple of
bluegills were also brought in to the scales by the young anglers.
Attesting to the jumbo size of the catfish in the pond, it was estimated that at least 50 catfish either broke the lines of the young anglers and/or got off before they could be landed.
One extremely large catfish, that was estimated to weigh six to seven pounds, was brought to the bank by a young angler, but when her dad tried to land the large catfish with a small net, the fish broke
the line and swam away.
The event organizers stocked over 600 pounds of catfish in the pond. There were also number of rainbow trout, catfish and bluegill there from previous stockings for anglers to try and catch.
Though the fish didn’t exactly cooperate, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the kids who sat with parents/guardians on the banks and watched for the telltale sign of a hungry catfish on the
end of the line.
The young anglers were divided into two groups. Kids between 5 and 10 years old competed in the juniors division, while the anglers from 11 through 14 years-of-age competed in the senior division.
Winners of the Kasting Kids event were:
Junior Division: 1st place, A.J. Snowden, Runner up, Ross Totton
Senior Division: 1st place Rebecca Baca, Runner up Janie McCowell
The winners of the fishing contest were:
Big Fish of the Tournament: Fady Guirgis 5.85 lb catfish
Juniors Division: Big Fish 1st place, Fady Guirgis 5.85 lbs, 2nd place, Heather Swartz 5.39 lbs
Juniors Division: Heaviest three fish stringer: 1st place, Taylor Richardson 9.77 lbs, 2nd place, Chelse Paulson 9.66 pounds
Senior Division: Big Fish 1st place, Kristen Snowden 4.46 pounds, 2nd place, Shante Kirk 4.42 pounds
Senior Division: Heaviest three fish stringer: 1st place Kristen Snowden 11.32 lbs, 2nd place Brittany Morris 10.09 pounds
Winner of the Special Kids (Handicap) trophy was Hillary Johnson with three catfish that weighed 12.12 pounds.
Joseph Johnson won a special award for catching, then releasing an albino catfish that weighed over three pounds.
Bill Yarnell, president of the Mohave Sportsman Club, one of the co-sponsors of the event was pleased with the turnout and results of the event. “Everyone had a great time!”
Yarnell also thanked all the sponsors and volunteers who help make the event so successful and put a lot of smiles on so many kids’ faces.
Yarnell noted that without the financial assistance from many conservation groups like the Wildlife Conservation Council, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona
Predator Callers and Anglers United, this event would not be possible.
“Conservation groups in Arizona always step up and help the kids,” Yarnell said.
After the fishing concluded, everyone in attendance was fed a hamburger/hot dog lunch that was cooked by MSC volunteers.
Plaques were presented to sponsors and others who had helped to make the program possible, then came the time when every young angler was given a choice between taking home a new road and reel and/or a
tackle box full of assorted fishing equipment.
Kids Fishing Day is a wonderful event that gives many kids in the community the opportunity, many for the first time, the chance to share the excitement of fishing with their parents and friends.
Click here for photos.
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