Two-year-old twins Gavin and Noah Sarasin of Lewisville, Colo. may not remember the first time they each caught a fish, but grandparents Frank and Roxanne Sarasin of Kewadin will.
The boys, along with older brother Conor, were among the more than 400 children who cast a line during the second annual Kids Free Fishing Day, Saturday, at the Great Lakes Campus of Northwestern Michigan College.
The event, hosted by the Traverse City Rotary Clubs, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, The Great Lakes Children's Museum and NMC's Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, provided rods, reels and bait to the young anglers who fished for more than 2,500 rainbow trout stocked for the event.
"This has been so much fun for the boys, really a great time,” said Rosanne Sarasin who was happy to be able to share the day with her visiting grandsons.
Sharing the outdoors with young children, is in large part, the reason for the event.
"Research shows that youngsters today do not have the same passion for outdoor activities as older generations. By offering a child a chance to fish, it helps him learn and respect aquatic ecosystems, plants and animals that help to sustain fish populations,” said Todd Kalish, DNR regional fisheries biologist covering northwestern Michigan.
Boy Scout Cub master Daryl Collins of Traverse City made sure all of the members of Pack 115 got their opportunity to try their hand and landing a big one.
"It's nearly impossible to get 30 boys and the equipment to fish together during the summer. This gives them the opportunity to work on their summer activity pin,” said Collins, himself an avid fisherman.
Kids and their families were also able to take part in Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish painting. Volunteers from the Rotary Club cleaned their catch and put them on ice for the trip home.
"It's nice to have the kids get a taste of the outdoors and see what fishing is all about. I think the parents enjoy it as much as the kids and that is what it is all about,” said volunteer Tom Carter.