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Community Corner

Kids Fish Free (In Spite of the Rain)

Dozens attend annual fishing day at Quarry Park

The sky was dark but spirits were bright at the annual Kids Fish Free Day at Racine Quarry Lake Park on Saturday.

Under a rainy sky, dozens of kids worked their way through several stations, learning to tie knots, identify fish, and cast. Kids could also learn about boat safety.

The big finale for each child was the chance to go out on the pier and try to actually catch a fish. Salmon Unlimited volunteers prepped dozens of poles, all lined up and ready to reel in the big one.

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"It's a good thing for the community; it's free, and from the start to finish, kids learn how to identify fish, then catch them, and cook them," said Chris Skreczko, a Salmon Unlimited volunteer from Mt. Pleasant. He was stationed at the end of the pier, where he could clean fish as they were caught and put them in Ziploc bags. Each fish would go home with a recipe, so families could eat what they caught.

Salmon Unlimited volunteer Jeff Kingsfield said the weather could have been worse.

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"It could be snowing," he said. (And in fact, they've had to break through ice at previous Kids Fish Free days.) "It's good to get the kids out. If we can get one kid out of ten interested in fishing, then that's a kid who's not on the street."

The Department of Natural Resources had just stocked Quarry Lake with 3,000 rainbow trout on Thursday, said Kangaroo Kayaking owner Jeff Camell, so the lake was ripe for the picking.

Miguel Sosa of Racine had brought his six-year-old son, also named Miguel, to try fishing for the first time.

"I'm learning with him, and we're having some fun," the elder Sosa said, as his son Miguel did a perfect cast. "It's great to watch the kids learn, from getting to know the different types of fish to all the steps you have to go through to cast."

Miguel's cousin, Jazmine Sosa, was also fishing for the first time.

"You need a lot of patience," Jazmine said. She was hoping to eat fish for dinner.

Ann Clausen of Salmon Unlimited has been helping organize this event for 32 years. Her husband first got her out on the water.

"Back in 1947, my husband said to me, 'Either you learn how to hunt and fish or forget it,'" she said. She's 82 now, and she's been hunting and fishing ever since.

Boy Scout Adam Tyryfter, 15, of Caledonia was out with his troop, 199 of St. Andrews, teaching kids how to tie knots. He'd already got some fishing in before the event started.

"I think the kids are out here for the fun of it," he said. "It makes you feel warm inside to help."

Boy Scouts Kevin Blunt, 13, and Jason Salvano, 12, also of Caledonia, agreed.

"I like doing community service," Jason said. "And the kids are learning to fish the proper way."

Prizes, food, and supplies were donated by several local businesses, including Cabela's, Culver's, Coco G's Popcorn, Georgie Porgie's, Klements, Kook's Dairy Queen, Kortendick's Hardware, Old Country Buffet, Paradise West, Bowling Center, Sentry, and Walgreens.

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