|£ids « More than 380 children registered for the 32nd annual Youth Fish Day sponsored by Paradise Sportsmen Association and conducted on the David King farm, Paradise. Kids Hooked On Trout Fishing LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor PARADISE (Lancaster Co.) Squeals of delight split the air as young fishermen landed trout along the stream banks of the John Fisher farm. Paradise. Saturday, May 17, was the 32nd annual Youth Fish Day sponsored by the Paradise Sportsmen’s Association, which Children who experience the fun of fishing also are taught the importance of keeping streams and riverbanks clean. Family members share the joy of fishing. stocks the stream with 1,700 trout the evening before the big event. “We want to get the kids back into fishing, and to learn respect for the stream,” said Cindy Garb er, a member of the association. More than 380 youth register ed for the event, despite the cool, damp weather. An area of the stream was roped off for children less than five years old, and those 6-12 Kornerv years of age fished in the open areas. Parents, friends, and sportsmen taught the children how to bait a hook, cast, and reel in catches. “Hunting and fishing seem to be dying out,” Garber said. “We want children to experience the joy of landing a fish. We also want them to learn the impor tance of keeping the land and streams clean so that fish multi ply instead of die.” For many young ones, the Fishing Day. was their first time fishing. Evident in the children’s expressions, the day promised to be the start of a lifelong love for fishing. One little girl with a yellow bucket named each of the fish she caught. Registration began at 7:30 a.m. Fishing started at 9 a.m. Compe tition ended at noon, although some families continued to fish. The largest fish snagged by the 5-years-and-under division was a 22-inch long trout caught by Brandon Shifflett, 2, of Kinzers. His uncle Rob Shifflett helped reel in the winner. In the 6 to 12 year-old catego ry, Raymond Lapp, 12, Gordon ville, caught a 20!/>inch trout to win a large trophy and tackle box. Children were almost guaranteed to land a big one since the stream had been stocked the evening before with 1,700 trout. Trophies and tackle boxes go to the winners of the largest fish. Two-year-old Brandon Shiffleft, Kinzers, with the help of his Uncle Rob Shiffleft, claimed the prize for the under 5-year-old category, with a trout that measures 22 inches long. Twelve-year-old Raymond Lapp, Gordonville, caught a 20V2-inch long trout to cap ture first place in the 6 to 12-year-old division. Free lunches of hot dogs, chips, and drink were served to the chil dren who registered. The event is free, but raffle tickets are sold to help fund the event. Community businesses contribute many of the prizes awarded. All proceeds go to stock fish nurseries, to feed fish, and to purchase stock for the following year. Garber said that last year’s drought caused the stream sup ply water to the trout nursery to stop flowing and killed the trout. On Jan. 18, the association pur chased young trout from another source. The trout were fed a quick-grow diet in order to speed up their growth in time for Fish Day. “This was an unanticipated ex pense that local businesses and residents and even some out-of These fish measure al- cleaning fish were free to most as large as the tot children who registered for who caught them. the event. state businesses donated gener ously,” Garber said. The event is scheduled annual ly on the third Saturday in May, and conducted rain or shine. Children attend from as far away as Philadelphia. This expression shows the joy of fishing. Even the services of
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