Warm with sunshine, scores kids caching their first fish, and a grizzled snapping turtle that managed to out-age many of the grandparents attending with their families.
That’s how Kids Fishing Day went. Family fun prevailed on Sunday at Veronica Valley County Park.
“I’ve never been here before,” offered Catherine Dunn, a high school teacher who spends summers as a diver in search of Eurasian milfoil for the Lake Leelanau Lake Association. “This is amazing.”
Dunn was one of several volunteers running the “fish painting” activity, which encouraged budding artists to slap vibrant colors on rubber fish forms. The unique paint designs were transferred to a sheet of cloth.
The finished piece might become a family treasure.
The entire gathering could carry the same description. A record crowd — quite an accomplishment for an event wrapping up its 26th year — munched on hot dogs, conversed with MDNR fish biologist Heather Hettinger and professional bass fisherman Tony Defilippo, learned how to fly cast and fillet fish, and caught a few bluegills.
“We have a sign-in station at which we count people without taking any other information, and ended up with 973,” said Alan Campbell of the Kids Fishing Day committee. “That is a record by almost 100. It’s hard to say how many folks were actually there because quite a few don’t sign in, but I’d guess we had about 1,200. What a fun day. Once again, a lot of youngsters caught their first fish.”
About those bluegills. Campbell was apologetic in that fewer bluegills were planted than in past years because of a shortage from a wholesaler that affected hatchery production throughout the state,, some interfering otters and a die-off at the hatchery just before planting. Still, 2,500 bluegills were planted, enough for most kids to be successful and have a chance at hooking one of the many naturally reproducing bass that inhabit Kids Fishing Pond.
Bingham Township resident Jim Kacin, a nearly nine-year pancreatic cancer survivor who shared his life journey while promoting Kids Fishing Day in a WTCM radio interview, jointed his family in again putting on an accessible amphibian display. Many youngsters for the first time had an opportunity to hold a snake, frog, crayfish or turtle, all of which were returned unharmed back to the park at the end of the day.
Kacin, whose walking is challenged resulting from chemo treatments, had a chance to visit with attendees while maneuvering one of three allterrain wheelchairs available. Another was commandeered by Steve Brett, who oversaw parking.
“They were having family time,” Kacin said. “There was a peace there; it was just beautiful.”
One all-terrain wheelchair was used by visitors who signed up at a booth staffed by the county Parks and Recreation Commission, which hopes to begin a pilot program for their use at county parks. Leelanau County joined several other groups and businesses, including the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Passing Along the Heritage (PATH) foundation, Cherryland Electric Cooperative and Lake Leelanau Community Association, in sponsoring the event. Many businesses also stepped up to sponsor, including the Leelanau Enterprise.
Instead of a letdown after the euphoria of another successful Kids Fishing Day, committee members are planning a meeting at which improvements including the purchase of more and bigger bluegills will be on the agenda.
