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Fishing for Fun

By Carla Kelly, Times-Record Staff Writer

No joke. Years ago, an archeologist found a clay tablet with this bit of Babylonian wisdom etched on it: "The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing.”

If that"s the case, some life spans got a definite boost Saturday at Mel Rieman Recreational Area on Lake Ashtabula as kids and fishing came together for the annual “Take a Kid Fishing Day.”

The annual North Dakota event falls on the first weekend in June, when fishing is free all over the state. With the sponsorship of Barnes County Wildlife, North Dakota Fish and Game, Valley City Women of Today, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, kids between ages 6 and 10 are bussed to the lake for instruction and fun.

The goal is to encourage people to get kids out fishing, according to ranger Jeff Kapaun, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

At the lake, rangers and volunteers mingled water safety tips with an introduction to fly-tying and casting, and added some dock time to practice the fine art of doing what fishermen do best: waiting for that tug on the line.

“Fishing is a waiting game,” according to fisher/philosopher Duane Reinisch, one of several volunteers stationed on the dock to offer advice and a helping hand when lines are tangled or strategy needs a boost.

At the pavilion, volunteer Eugene Pederson, assisted by seasonal ranger Mike Stanley, show youngsters how to make their own spinners, which are especially attractive to walleye and northern pike.

Pederson’s been fly-tying so long he can’t remember when he started. “It’s cheaper [than buying lures] and a good winter project,” he said, as he helped little fingers put a spinner blade and beads on fishing line and tie it just so.

When the beginning anglers had their spinners tucked in plastic bags, Stanley took them to his demonstration model of a low-flow dam, and showed them what happens when a boat - or a swimmer - get too close to the edge and end up trapped in the vortex below.

“It’s too powerful for even the best swimmers,” Stanley warned, then let the kids float the boat over the edge themselves.

The next demonstration took place in the parking lot, as volunteers showed the youngsters how to cast. Kevin Windish, Jamestown, has been helping out for eight years, when his own children participated. Now his kids volunteer, too.

On the dock, fishing affected different kids different ways. Jesse Inscore, not a newcomer to the sport, takes it seriously. “I don’t need a picture right now,” he said, when he saw the camera.

He’s right, of course. Fishing is a silent sport, for the most part, a time to concentrate, or maybe just stare at the water and think about stuff.

Then there’s Drew Brix, who caught a small-mouth bass and released it. Seeing his success, other boys headed in Drew’s direction to try their luck. A few minutes later, it was easy to tell Drew had caught more than a fish. He had also hooked - or been hooked by - angler’s optimism.

He felt a tug. “I think I got another,” he shouted, then, “Oh! I almost got another!”