Fishing derby designed to promote sport of fishing to kids - and parents, too

The third annual Just 4 Kids Fishing Derby is just as much for the parents as for the kids, Troop 471 leader and derby organizer Dana Morse said. “Fishing is a great hobby for those of any age,” she said, “but especially for kids and their families. “So many in our community have lost the art of fishing. There are many parents today who wouldn't know how to teach their children how to fish. This derby is the perfect chance for them to learn how to fish and to teach their children.” The fishing derby will be held Saturday morning at Gebhard Woods. It's a free event, organized by Morris Boy Scout Troop 471, designed to encourage the family sport of fishing. As usual, the back pond at Gebhard Woods will be stocked with hundreds of bluegills, ready for the catching. Fishing is a great bonding experience and something fun parents can do with their kids on a nice weekend morning. And moms and dads who know nothing about how to fish can come to the derby and learn to fish for free. Boy scouts and troop leaders will be on hand to help bait hooks or to help with any other needs the fishermen and women need. Morse said that if any parent has never fished before, they should look for one of the adult leaders and ask for help getting started. Morse said participants should bring their own fishing poles, tackle and bait. Those new to the sport can pick up a starter fishing kit at a local store. It should have a pole and a tackle kit. Stop on the way and pick up some bait, like grub worms or meal worms, he said, and head to the derby. Morse got the idea for the derby three years ago, and the scouts ran with it. Morse knew they and the community would enjoy it, as he and his family have gotten a lot of pleasure out of fishing over the years. “To me, there's a lot of serenity being out in nature,” he said. “You see the things you don't normally get to see. “It's a good way to spend some nice time with your family, too. A lot of parents don't do anything with their children anymore. Fishing is a great way to build on that father-son, mother-daughter relationship.” Fishing derby participants may keep the fish they catch to take home for a good lunch or they will be given a ticket for each fish they catch-and-release that can be redeemed for prizes at the derby. “Either way, you win,” said troop leader Dana Morse. “If you release, you get a ticket stub to redeem for a prize, and if you don't, well, the fish is your prize.” Plus, all those who register, both children and adults, get a free hot dog lunch at the derby. And there will be drawings for other prizes. Morse said the event is good for the community and for the scouts, who get to learn some leadership and planning skills. There will also be petitions at the derby for people to sign in support of Gebhard Woods State Park. The governor has announced that the park will be closed for good on Nov. 1. Morse has strong feelings about that. “It would be extremely sad,” he said of the park closing. “I can't begin to tell you how often my family and I have gone to that park and used it ourselves. “We often take our dinner there, have a picnic, then do some fishing. I see kids out there all the time, who ride their bikes to the park with their fishing poles and fish a while. You take that away from even one child who would otherwise be flirting with something they shouldn't be doing, and it's not worth it.” Morse said the boy scouts use Gebhard Woods all the time, and not just for the fishing derby. They camp there, run orienteering sessions, and host the cub scouts for campouts. This weekend, in fact, he said, the scouts are using the park as a trailhead for a long bike ride down the I & M Canal tow path. The Just 4 Kids Fishing Derby is sponsored by Exelon Dresden Nuclear Power Station and is co-sponsored by the Morris Daily Herald, Gebhard Woods State Park, Kurtz Ambulance Service, and the City of Morris. For further information, call (815) 325-4033 In addition to being a fun way to spend time with family, Morse said fishing always has another practical side. “If you know how to fish,” he said, “you will always be able to have a meal for free.”