Free Fishing Day success

JEROME - More than 500 children and hundreds of parents took advantage of the five scheduled Free Fishing Day events in the Magic Valley Region last Saturday, June 7. Not only did many of the participants catch fish but they also won fishing poles, free tackle and dined on free hotdogs, pop and chips in two of the five areas. "It was a great success," said Kelton Hatch, Fish and Game Regional Conservation Educator. "We gave away nearly 250 donated fishing poles and dozens of tackle boxes. The real success was the happy kids enjoying a day on the water with their families." "Our goal was to introduce children and their parents to fishing and how much this area has to offer. With the Assistance of generous sponsors and volunteers we accomplished this mission." Businesses and groups helping Fish and Game, included:

• Walmart stores, who donated manpower, tackle, poles, bait for all locations, along with pop, hotdogs and chips at Hayspur.
• The Idaho Bass Hunters donated manpower and 35 fishing rods.
• Pepsi, Albertson's and Falls Brand Meat, donated food at Hagerman.
• Wood River Land Trust donated over 100 fishing rods and manpower at the Heagle Park Pond in Hailey.
• Blue Lakes Sporting Goods donated tackle and prizes.

"Without all this help and the donations it would have been hard to have pulled this off," Hatch said. "As a state agency we can only do so much. The help and donations volunteers provided for these events is what really made them successful."