Bluegills were prolific, and so were young people hooking them Sunday at the biggest-ever Kids Fishing Day.
Prompted by good fishing weather — cooler with clouds — families flocked to Veronica Valley County Park and were rewarded with plenty of fishing action to go with amphibian displays, kids painting tables, flyfi shing lessons and free hot dogs.
“We were on the edge of being overwhelmed,” said Al Campbell, chair of the event. “People kept coming and coming. We ran out of worms and had to resupply twice, and then we had to make a run to Hansens for more hot dogs and buns. It was happy chaos.”
An exact count of people who attended will never be known as there is no admission fee and not everyone checks in at the sign-in booth, Campbell continued. . But some 830 people did sign in, 600 hot dogs donated by Hansen Foods were consumed by 1:30 p.m., and overflow parking was needed long before then. Past kids fishing days attracted between 500 and 600 people.
Happy chaos. “We think it’s wonderful,” said Bingham Township resident Jennifer Valleau, who attended with her husband, Chuck, and their 7-year-old son Fulton, a Leland Public School student. “We look forward to it every year.”
Fulton caught his first fish at a past Kids Fishing Day, which was a common refrain. MDNR fisheries biologist Heather Hettinger, who spent the day handing out worms, lending fishing poles and providing advice on how to catch a big one said she heard from many young people who had landed their first fish.
Hettinger contends that the Leelanau Kids Fishing Day is the largest event of its kind in the state, and Sunday seemed to prove her right.
“There are a lot of kids here,” said 12-year-old Silas Marks of Marshall, who was visiting relatives in Leelanau County. “It’s definitely a kid-friendly event.”
A display of critters including snakes, frogs, crayfish and a snapping turtle estimated to be up to 50 years old caught and later released in Veronica Valley was a big hit. Credit Jim Kacin and Grayson and Brian Booth for organizing the display, and a crew of their young helpers for teaching kids how to properly and safely hold the animals.
“Probably my favorite part was holding onto animals I’ve never held before,” said 11-yearold Katie Boomershing of Traverse City.
Kids Fishing Day is put on by a loose-knit team of volunteers who begin working in late April. Sponsoring organizations include the county Parks and Recreation Commission, Passing Along the Heritage (PATH) Foundation, Cherryland Electric Co-op, Grand Traverse Band, Lake Leelanau Lake Association, Cedar Rod and Gun Club and the Lake Leelanau Community Association. Many businesses donate funds as well.
Once again Ginny Haag organized the kids painting booth, Alan and Karen Schaub headed up hot dog grilling, Cody Campbell offered how-to filleting demonstrations and Steve and Nancy Beights ran the front table. Nick Papes and Steve Brett, both new to the event, provided much-needed parking management. Also new was professional bass fisherman Tony DeFlippo, who brought his decked-out boat to display but seemed content handing out worms and bobbers to eager young fishers.
Famed fly-fisher Bob Summers, owner of the R.W. Summers Bamboo Flyrods Company in Traverse City, ushered a new generation into his favorite sport. Summers cradled young folks in this arms to teach the rhythm of flinging a fly, and before long many were snapping out line like veterans.
“Maybe some time down the road he’ll remember this and jump into flyfishing,” Summers said as a boy stepped up for a lesson.
Some 3,500 bluegills were planted last week at Veronica Valley ponds. Most remain to offer recreation throughout the summer at Kids Fishing Pond, which provides a rare shorefi shing opportunity for young people in this area.
