Beating the dark, cold, windy weather, a participant in the 11th annual Fish for Fun Day on Saturday at Lake Miola looks more like a bag of laundry than an angler.
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Cold, dark day greets kids’ fishing fun at lake
Annual event is deemed ‘a success’ despite weather
By Bob Harrington, Bharrington@miconews.com
“It was a huge success in spite of the cold, windy weather,” said Bob Johnson of the Paola Optimist Club about to the 11th annual Fish for Fun Day held Saturday at Lake Miola.
“There were 40 entries by 9 o’clock,” said Dave Ellis, chairman of the event and a member of the Paola Optimist Club. “We are looking forward to next year and hope the weather is better. In spite of the weather, a lot of fish were caught and released.”
Fish caught were primarily sunfish and bass.
“The number was not as large as in the past,” Johnson said, “but there was a lot of Little League and soccer ball games going on also.”
“It’s always fun to the kids any time you can wet a line. It’s about the kids getting out. One of these years we’ll get some nice weather,” Jason Cornelison said.
His wife, Angela Cornelison, said, “We came out last year, and this is why we came back, even though the weather was the same.”
Members of the county 4-H clubs conducted the casting contest and awarded certificates to the entrants.
Staff members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks presented programs on water safety and wearing the right size life jacket.
A display on fish identification was set up, and after the programs, all were able to fish until storms were in the area.
“Everybody hurried up and dined on fish, hot dogs, lemonade, chips and cookies,” Johnson said.
There was a drawing for door prizes. Winning new rods and reels were Sophia Johnson, Colton Essex, Josie Johnson, Tony Newman, Johnnie Kraft, Molly Durdee, Mathew Durdee, Rowan West, Quention Stevens, Sheina Hart, Dylan Stark, Zachary Stark, Jerrod Miller, Niccole Miller, Garrett Miller, Dalney Clemetson, Gavin Clemetson, Gabe Jesperson, Joseph Jesperson, Alicia Whitmore, Keagon Sinclair, Carol Sinclair, Cameron Sinclair, Katie Sinclair, Jacob Weaver, Derek Weaver, Ronique Polla, Maggie Cornelison, Bailey Cornelison, Cassie Cornelison, Chad Lolbert, Desean Johnson, Dakota Kay, Jolie Mark and Clayton Essex.
Pocket-size tackle boxes and Pizza Hut gift cards for a pan pizza also were given away.
Brian Boedicker won $500 in a raffle drawing and, Bill Redenbaugh won $100. In addition, three $50 prizes, three $25, 10 $10 and 15 $5 cash prizes were awarded. Prize winners donated $10 back to the club.
Staff writer Kevin Gray contributed to this story.
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“There were 40 entries by 9 o’clock,” said Dave Ellis, chairman of the event and a member of the Paola Optimist Club. “We are looking forward to next year and hope the weather is better. In spite of the weather, a lot of fish were caught and released.”
Fish caught were primarily sunfish and bass.
“The number was not as large as in the past,” Johnson said, “but there was a lot of Little League and soccer ball games going on also.”
“It’s always fun to the kids any time you can wet a line. It’s about the kids getting out. One of these years we’ll get some nice weather,” Jason Cornelison said.
His wife, Angela Cornelison, said, “We came out last year, and this is why we came back, even though the weather was the same.”
Members of the county 4-H clubs conducted the casting contest and awarded certificates to the entrants.
Staff members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks presented programs on water safety and wearing the right size life jacket.
A display on fish identification was set up, and after the programs, all were able to fish until storms were in the area.
“Everybody hurried up and dined on fish, hot dogs, lemonade, chips and cookies,” Johnson said.
There was a drawing for door prizes. Winning new rods and reels were Sophia Johnson, Colton Essex, Josie Johnson, Tony Newman, Johnnie Kraft, Molly Durdee, Mathew Durdee, Rowan West, Quention Stevens, Sheina Hart, Dylan Stark, Zachary Stark, Jerrod Miller, Niccole Miller, Garrett Miller, Dalney Clemetson, Gavin Clemetson, Gabe Jesperson, Joseph Jesperson, Alicia Whitmore, Keagon Sinclair, Carol Sinclair, Cameron Sinclair, Katie Sinclair, Jacob Weaver, Derek Weaver, Ronique Polla, Maggie Cornelison, Bailey Cornelison, Cassie Cornelison, Chad Lolbert, Desean Johnson, Dakota Kay, Jolie Mark and Clayton Essex.
Pocket-size tackle boxes and Pizza Hut gift cards for a pan pizza also were given away.
Brian Boedicker won $500 in a raffle drawing and, Bill Redenbaugh won $100. In addition, three $50 prizes, three $25, 10 $10 and 15 $5 cash prizes were awarded. Prize winners donated $10 back to the club.
Staff writer Kevin Gray contributed to this story.