Savage students Junior Hinds, left, and Barrett Jorgensen experience a bitter cold test during the hyperthermia section of kids fishing day. (Photos by Bill Vander Weele)
Pictured is Fisheries Manager Mike Backes, instructing students on how to cast while fishing.
Pictured from left are Thomas Challeen, US Bureau of Reclamation technician, FWP fisheries biologist Mat Rugg and FWP fisheries technician Jordan Pesik. They lead the Fish ID station for kids.
About 140 Richland County sixth-graders took part in the annual Walleyes Unlimited MonDak Chapter's kids fishing day at the Gartside Reservoir on May 21.
Kevin Mayer and Justin Jones of the MonDak Chapter believe it was the 28th year of the activity to encourage youngsters to fish.
The local event was created through the early leadership of Mayer, Russ Wells and Doug Hill.
"A lot of chapters do this," Mayer said. "It introduces the kids to fishing."
For the past several years, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has played a key role in the activity. At four different stations, officials provided information about fish identification, casting, hyperthermia and boating safety.
The MonDak Chapter provides a fishing pole for each student attending.
"Last year, a nice big bass was caught," Mayer said.
Jones has been involved with the kids fishing day for 15 years.
"On a nice day, it's fun introducing these kids to fishing, and hopefully we get them hooked on it," Jones said.
He added that it's educational for the students to understand which areas that FWP all covers.
"You kind of see all parts of fish management," Jones said. "It's a good way to see what everybody in Montana FWP does."
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