KIDS FISHING EVENT AT HEART LAKE A SUCCESS!
The Anacortes Parks and Recreation Department has held a kids fishing event/derby for the past 13 years as part of the Fish America Program. Some years back, the Fidalgo Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers approached the Parks Department to see if we could be of assistance. At that time Mr. Russ Pithus, Recreation Coordinator said “sure”. We offered boats to take the shore bound anglers out for possibly a new fishing experience and also provided assistance and gear to fish from either the boats or shore.
One of the big problems we jointly faced was that in some of the 13 years, Heart Lake was almost “fished out” by the time the derby was held and some kids went home fishless. Many calls by both The Parks Department and the Chapter to the WDFW resulted in them holding over some fish and planting them a day or two before the event. WDFW has been supporting the event now for the past four years and we would like them to know that both we and especially the kids thank them for their efforts and all the smiles and yells of excitement-FISH ON!
The Chapter would like to say thank you to the Anacortes Parks and Recreation Department, especially Nicole Johnson and her staff, for letting us continue to help with the event. We look forward to the event each year with more and more members turning out to help.
We would also like to thank the following merchants for donating prizes: D&S Tackle/Anacortes; Ace Hardware/Anacortes; Village Pizza/Anacortes; and Holiday Market Sports Center/Burlington.
Karl Frantz
Event Coordinator
Fidalgo Chapter PSA
The above is a letter to the editor submitted to both the Anacortes American and the Skagit Valley Herald
From the June 8th, 2005 Anacortes American:
Reel kids
 Gordon Weeks |
Five-year-old Anacortes resident Jacob South and his sister Lindsey, 2, display their catch at the Fidalgo Chapter Puget Sound Anglers' 13th annual Kids All-American Fishing Derby held Saturday at Heart Lake. Prizes were awarded for the biggest and smallest fish caught at the free event, which drew 48 kids. Reeling in the largest fish at 17 ounces was 8-year-old Zoe Nestle of Anacortes; the smallest fish, at 1 ounce, was nabbed by 8-year-old Aidan Garcia of Anacortes.