2011 Youth Event

APPROXIMATELY 100 COLUMBUS-AREA YOUTHS TO PARTICIPATE IN FISHING EVENT

COLUMBUS, OH - The Central Ohio Chapter of Muskies, Inc. will host its annual youth fishing event on Thursday, July 14th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Whetstone Park in Columbus. Approximately 100 youths, who are participants in Columbus Recreation and Parks summer programs, are expected to attend this event.

The Central Ohio Chapter of Muskies, Inc. organizes this event, with the help of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, to coincide with a Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) program aimed at directing youths toward positive activities and away from drug use. For some youths, Thursday’s event may be their first fishing experience.

A $500 Division of Wildlife Step Outside Grant, along with generous donations from Kokosing Construction Company in Fredericktown and Integrated Leadership Systems (ILS) in Westerville helped to purchase channel catfish to stock in the pond, food for the kids and to present each participant in the HOFNOD program with their own rod and reel to use for future fishing trips. Many Muskies, Inc. club members and staff from Columbus Recreation and Parks will be on hand to serve food and assist the kids with fishing.

This annual event is a cooperative effort between the Central Ohio Chapter of Muskies, Inc., the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, and the Division of Wildlife.


For Further Information Contact:

The Central Ohio Chapter of Muskies, Inc.

Rob VanGorder, 740-225-1152

Elmer Heyob, 937-309-5359

-or-

Columbus Recreation and Parks

George Wilson, 614-645-3158

We are in need of as many members as possible to help out with assembling rods (approx 4:30pm) and help with baiting hooks, removing fish and using your professional de-tangling skills, (this is where those that continually have 4 rods tangled while trolling really shine!). Recommend you bring a pair of gloves, pliers and a towel. Hope to see you there.

Here are some pictures from last year's youth event. This is always a fun time for our Club and all the kids.

Randy

The estimated "kid" count from Columbus Parks and Rec is 100+, so we will need as much help as possible to make this a great night for the program. Don't forget your pliers and a hand towel. Grabbing a dozen night crawlers is also a good idea, because we all know there's a little friendly competition to see who's kids get the most catfish!

If you've never helped at this event, I highly encourage it. You will go home feeling good about the time spent.

Best count we could come up with was about 88 youth taking part in the event. The cooler temps and breeze was appreciated by all, and the catfish cooperated like never before. Tommy did a great job as the grill master and got everyone fed. At one point, we walked around the pond to make sure that every kid landed a cat, and we only found two who had not gotten it done. That problem was fixed about ten minutes later. We'll get some pics up soon. Thanks to everyone who came out to help. A few of us went out afterwards for a cold beverage. Before we left the bar, I got the following email from one of the parents that says it all:

Rob, I just wanted to say thanks to you and all the men hosting the fishing event for the kids from the Rec center. You are the greatest group of men and are so patient with helping the children. My son Griffin looks forward to this event every Summer so keep up the great work, what a fantastic role model you are for kids. Thanks again.