Young anglers keep getting
hooked on fishing at annual event
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Sydney Pachter, 8, shows off the fish she caught Saturday at the 26th annual Kids Fishing Tournament and Clinic at McKibben Park in North Port, sponsored by the Early Bird Kiwanis.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
Tyler Pachter, 12, caught one of the larger fish during the tournament.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Adrianna Denas, 6, a Glenallen Elementary School student, spends time fishing Saturday with her papa, Joe Groover during the 26th annual Kids Fishing Tournament and Clinic at McKibben Park in North Port, sponsored by the Early Bird Kiwanis.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Dominick Novello, 4, attempts to bait a hook with a worm.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Children have been invited to fish for free during the Early Bird Kiwanis tournament for 26 years. Each year the club hopes the event will attract more children.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Cailinne Kelly, 4, shows off her catch. The Early Bird Kiwanis Club gave out prizes to children for catching the most fish, the ugliest fish and smallest fish during the tourney.
SUN PHOTO BY LEE ANDERSON
Members of the North Port High School Key Club put together free fishing poles for the kids, made possible through a Fish Florida grant.
SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
Olin Grindrod, 11, proudly displays his 18-inch tilapia. The Oviedo resident won the award for biggest fish caught.
NORTH PORT — Things have changed since the first Kids Fishing Tournament and Clinic held 26 years ago. Back then, kids were given cane poles and had to return them before leaving. Today, with assistance from the city of North Port, kids are given a modern rod and reel — one they can take home to use again and again.
Some things have also remained the same, like the smile of a young angler after hooking a fish for the first time.
