Kids enjoy fishing clinic
The bunch of volunteers assisting the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club at last Saturday’s youth fishing clinic at Mittry Lake had an absolutely fantastic day with a total of 297 kids signing up, a lot of them for the very first time, to get in on the free fishing activities. All the kids were anxious to get to the fishing to see what kind of bites they’d get from the fish. The one and only upset at this finely-run event was when the high winds kicked up early morning, creating huge waves that turned the water into a muddy brown bath that lasted throughout the event. It did nothing to keep those youngsters from enjoying the fishing, not for a second!
The first 100 kids to arrive received a new fishing pole plus an event shirt to begin their fishing fun, thanks to efforts of those that chaired this annual event. No one expected almost 300 kids to show up. Most other kids signing up after all the poles had been given out but wanting to fish had either brought their own or borrowed equipment from others so they could still try their luck. To keep smaller children happy along with those who hadn’t had luck catching from lake waters, the club and the Region IV Game and Fish personnel had put together two big round fishing troughs filled with fish so they could all get the hang of it all in catching fish. The kids really enjoyed that.
A good share of fish were caught with most released back to the water to grow to be caught again later. Final results creating winners of trophy awards in the four age groups were: ages 1-5: 1. Rustin Curry 4.79; 2. Kinley Lute 3.6; 3 Max Schofield 3.46; ages 6-8: 1. Brady Friar 4.4; 2. Autumn Scott 3.7; 3. Haiden Mensing 2.07; ages 9-12: 1. Kyla Kerkes 4.78; 2. Lacy Friar 3.84; 3. Rowan Allread 3.0; ages 13-17: 1. Kyle Gigoux 5.4; 2. Luke Kerkes 2.46; 3. Blake Edington 5.4.
Other happy youngsters catching smaller fish were:
Ages 1-5: Luke Allread 3.0; Marissa Ostega 3.0; Ryan Lee Young 2.64; Gabriel Kerkes 2.46; Lea Kerkes 2.4; Marissa Ortega 3.0; Lizeth Vargas .220; Keukaba Reyes .165; Emma Nelson .49; Mason Beccerra .190; Buddy Knight 1.3; Athena Carretero 1.02; Sky Saiz .245; Sara Figueroa .230; Joe Navarro .25; Destiny Alira .145; Memphis Hardin .17; Jacob Haunschild .23; Jorean Laurel .13; Mason Bedoya .01; Jerimicha Little .50; Athena Dodd .14; Kendal Wallace 1.3; MaKenzie Wal- lace .45; Kennedi Wallace .23; Kaden Perkins 1.3; T. Maples .27; Elliot Matos .14; Sulliven Speckel .07; Madilyn Heatwole .14; and Billie Grace Gotchie .16.
Ages 6-8: Joanne Portillo 1.1; Rylan Wood 1.09; Ledger Fontanez 1.80; MacKenna Phillips 1.59; Emily Sanchez 1.73; Haiden Felix 1.57; Kale Lute 1.8; Samantha Wanlass .8; Luis Yeverino .07; Lashaad Smiley .40; Marielsa Ortega .30; Vianey Martinez .49; Kateiyah Curretero .56; Ava Gonzales .155; Oliver Brooks .41; Stella Hardin .145; Emerick Kelly .20; Jacob Clavelli .13; Izack Torres .165; Kaden McKay .44; David Fell .18; Jeremiah Saenz .4; Damian Rodriguez .20; Baylee Jones .165; Haidyn Mensing 2.07; Sonny Miles .14; Ian Hinojosa .19; Blake Waike 1.04; Emma Perkins 1.0; Miguel Alvarez .36; Brooklyn Brown .05; Gracie Maples .08; Zamantha Becerre .175; Isaiah Reyes .165; Elizabeth Gotchie .1; Katie Crookston .63; Ember Reynolds .37; and Ava Speckel .1.
Ages 9-12: Meadow Harrison 2.0; Avedis Martinez 1.99; Nichole Williams 1.8; Abbygail Knight .15; Faith Hardin .42; Ryan Brooks 1.20; Terrell Molock .08; Kaden Thompson .16; Zack Haunschild .145; Daniel Saenz .205; Andriak Rodriguez .6; Coy Horton .32; Isaac Randall .20; Terrence Palmer Jr. .175; TS Rivera .11; Aaron Yeverino 1.6; Juan Navarro .18; Ameerah Benetiz .190; Chris Dominguez .165; Anthony Dominguez .26; Dina Hernandez .25; Julie Ortega .21; David Hinojosa 1.5; Jose Rama- riz .11; Jordon Bedoya .43; Rebecca Bedoya 1.3; William Crookston .125; Derek Perkins .10; Abigail Olivares .26; Westin Brown .48; Bradley Ayala .21; Cohen Kerestes 1.8; and Blyth Daily .60.
Ages 13-17: Palilah Alira .16; Danica Hurst .170; Kyle Scott .50; Jordan Baker .14; Kaitlyn Scott .47; Andre Quintero .10; Nathan Guerrero .72; and Kaiden Montoya .180.
Once the fishing was done, everyone attending was treated to a great lunch of yummy hot dogs with trimmings (with cook Doug Beach), chips and watermelon, as well as bottled water and fruit drinks that had been available throughout the event. After the awards had been presented to the winning kids, prizes for each and everyone of the kids were handed out to top the day with huge smiles from each youngster.
The whole event was smooth from start to finish and so much fun for everyone, thanks to those who put it all together — that included Debbie Power, Olie Morin, Brian Shadd and David Parrish plus the hardworking volunteers (a lot of hard working members of the YVRGC) and Region IV Game and Fish. A special thanks to David Parrish for handling the fishing end so well and to the High School Bass Fishing Club kids handling weigh-in without a hitch.
Fishing clubs
• Desert Bass Anglers “the fun way to fish”: Check next week’s column for results of Saturday’s tournament or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.
• ABA American Bass — Yuma division: If you haven’t fished the Yuma area ABA tournaments, it’s not too late. Call Jeff Woods at (952) 824-0553 for information on becoming a member.
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Lots of fishing opportunities this time of year with the Shoot Bang derby May 27 at Mittry Lake that will end this year’s Big Bass qualifying with the Big Bass dinner June 9 followed by the Big Bass derby June 10 launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Mark your calendar to include the July 15 Bob Hefner Memorial derby season finale at Mittry Lake. Costs and options: $40 per boat, $5 big fish option and $5 for the 2-pound pot option, totaling $50 in all with three places paid/100 percent paid out.
A very good reason to join the YVRGC to get in on all the fishing fun and super great practice on the water. Call Becky Mae Pope at 5020121 or email maybhunting@gmail. com or attend any club meeting at 7 p.m. the 1st Wednesday each month at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive. Check the following
• Yuma Draw-Series/Pro-Am Bass Club: Call Manuel Garcia at 210-0043 to learn what they have to offer. Yuma is fortunate in having so many fishing opportunities to take advantage of and all the learning we can gain from others. This is one of those organizations. Give Manuel a call.
• Yuma’s High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any youngster to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing boats and equipment as well as guide the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing know-how’s. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started. Any interested high school student will be a part of an exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake. Thanks so very much to the guys and gals from this organization who came to Mittry Lake to take care of the weigh-in station at the Youth Fishing Clinic.
Shooting sports
• Yuma 4-H Shooting Sports: The 2017-18 training season will begin in September. If you have a youngster who is either a member of 4-H or interested in being a part of a 4-H club in order to get into their shooting sports program, call the 4-H office in Yuma at 726-3904 or Stanley Gourley at 344-0740 to learn what they offer.
• Renegade Archers of Yuma: If you and your family might like to learn all about shooting archery from the beginning, call me at 247-4450 or Kevin Wilson at 726-0953 to get together at the Foothills Archery range for shooting fun and great practice. The practice range is open (free use) daylight hours all week for your much-needed practice and enjoyment. Do what you can to prevent vandalism at the range so all can enjoy. There will be a 3D trail set up to shoot at 9 a.m. a few Sundays each month, open to one and all for great recreation and practice. Shoot fees are $3 adults with youngsters of all ages free of charge. Call the Wilsons for directions to the range or answers to questions.
• Important notice for users of
Ron Gissendaner needs to let all shooters utilizing the ranges know that the Adair Park ranges will be closed from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday for APS to fly their power line north of the range. Note: The 2 LE ranges and archery will remain open. For more information, call Gissendaner at 726-0022.
Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.