|£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