The Youth Memorial Fishing Tournament was held at Johnson Lake in Fremont on Saturday, June 15th and was a big success. This was the third annual Mike Baker Memorial fishing day that Game and Parks has helped sponsor. Mike Baker was a local Fremont man who was an avid fisherman and who loved teaching kids how to fish. Baker was killed by a drunk driver three years ago.
The event hosted an estimated 300 kids and 200 parents. All of the kids who had pre-registered received a free fishing pole at the end of the event. Game and Parks brought along the aquatic education trailer and handed out over 150 “loaner poles” to youth needing a fishing pole for the event (we emptied the trailer). The fishing was really good for bass, bluegill and catfish with several large fish being caught by the kids. Many of them were released by the kids after a quick photo.
There was a great deal of interest in the Half Price Life-Time Youth Hunt/Fish permits. Staff at the event conducted 10 drawings for the lifetime permits. One of the permits was free thanks to the Foundation and a private donor who offered to pay for the other half.