A perfect day for taking kids fishing - Wednesday, June 17, 2009

On Saturday, June 13 boats motored from the Sunset Lake boat launch with kids ready to be taken fishing.  Joel VanLanen, of Iron River, and his son Joey follow the pontoon driven by boat captain Tim Hall. The Take a Kid Fishing Derby, which was sponsored by the Iron County Chamber of Commerce, had 35 young entrants and nearly 25 boats that took the kids fishing.

Tim Hall took the wheel of the pontoon as little Julie Hall gets ready to fish during the Take a Kid Fishing Contest held on Saturday, June 13, at Sunset Lake. Julie was one of 35 young contestants who entered the derby. Nearly 25 boats participated in taking these kids fishing.

Neil Dennis, along with 23 other young fisher-boys and girls spent the morning at Lake Ottawa during the kids fishing derby. If the fish wasn’t big enough to win a prize, there was always a chance in the minnow races, casting contest or fish identification.­­

Morgan VanLanen of Crivitz, Wis. caught the first smallmouth bass, but the 13 1/2-incher was soon outsized by her younger brother, Wyatt. Morgan did win the largest fish contest in her age group during the Lake Ottawa annual Kids Fishing Derby sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service Iron River Ranger District.