Take A Kid Fishing Day

Jeff Green | Aug 29, 2013

The Conservationists of Frontenac Addington (COFA) renewed one of their time-honoured traditions at Deer Rock Lake last week. Five children between the ages of 9 and 12, who might otherwise not have an opportunity to fish, were taken out by COFA members and Conservation Officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources for a morning of fishing.

Ed Yanch, former Principal at North Addington Education Centre, picked up the five youngsters from their homes early in the morning, and brought them to Deer Rock Lake near Flinton. There they were met by COFA members and the Conservation Officers and their boats and off they went fishing. COFA provided each child with a rod and a reel and line and lures, which they got to keep.

“We had a real good day,” said COFA President Ron Pethick, “everyone managed to catch at least one fish, some more than that, and they learned something about fishing and boating along the way.”

By noon the fishing was done and it was time for a shore lunch. COFA members prepared potatoes and bacon and showed the kids how to clean and filet the fish they’d caught for frying.

“We all had a taste of fresh fish,” said Pethick, “and there isn’t anything that tastes much better than that.”

But even with food on the table, the youngsters were more interested in fishing. They had to be called to the table from their perches on shoreline rocks where they were fishing for sunfish.

Ed Yanch brought the well-fed kids home as the COFA members and Conservation Officers dealt with the boats. COFA is an organization that is devoted to preserving wilderness and fish habitat in North Frontenac and Addington Highlands.