GREAT FALLS — Wadsworth Pond played host on Saturday to Family Fishing Day. It's an annual event designed to teach basic fishing skills and encourage participation in outdoor activities.
It's a cooperative effort from several agencies: Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Walleyes Unlimited; Trout Unlimited; Sun River Watershed Group; City of Great Falls Park & Recreation Department; and Malmstrom Air Force Base.
The event featured educational stations on fish identification, knot-tying, casting, and fly-tying, followed by open fishing. Participating youth who completed all education stations were eligible for a rod/reel fishing outfit donated by the Great Falls Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited.
Eleven-year old Tiana Hanson was excited as she tried to reel in a fish. Unfortunately, the fish got away. But not to worry, she had already caught one earlier.
"I just like sitting and eating food and getting fish,” Hanson said.
FWP education manager Dave Hagengruber explained, "This has been kind of a Great Falls tradition (on) the Saturday after school gets out. Probably more than 20 years this has been going on with a break now for a few years because of COVID."
"We come out as much as we can, every time we have it, just to enjoy the morning,” fisher Robert Langan said. "It's relaxing. You get to enjoy the wildlife and the scenery wherever we go,” Langan replied when asked what makes fishing so enjoyable.
"There are rainbow trout in here, our walleye numbers are up a little bit. Perch, sun fish, there's carp, there's suckers. That's what's important. Being able to catch something,” said Hagengruber.
Weather permitting, another Family Fishing Day will be held at Frog Ponds in Lewistown on June 11.
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