Kim Ogle of St. Ignace helps her nephews Isaiah Ogle (left), 5, of St. Ignace, and Hugh Bigelow, 5, of Epoufette, bait their fishing lines during the annual Kids Fishing Day at the Castle Rock ponds Saturday, June 10, where more than 300 people attended, as well as Smokey the Bear. Nearly 340 people attended the Kids Fishing Day at Castle Rock ponds Saturday, June 10, held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Summer Free Fishing Weekend, when all fishing license fees are waived.

Jim Pudelko of DeTour enjoyed the event with his two grandsons from Grand Rapids, 10-year-old Nathan and sevenyear old Brenden Slocum, who have attended the event many times.

"We love coming to this event," said Mr. Pudelko, sporting a camouflaged fishing hat, the same as his grandsons were wearing. "My grandsons always want to come here, and we try to each year."

Mr. Pudelko said he made the eight-hour round-trip drive to Grand Rapids just to bring the kids to the fishing event.

"We've been here all day, but I've got to get them back home by 6 p.m.," he chuckled.

Above: Four-year-old Casey Brake Jr., with his father Casey Sr. looking over, tries to nab one of the many rainbow brook trout that are in the holding tank, which the St. Ignace Fire Department put together for the young anglers. The fish were later released into the ponds once oxygen in the tank became depleted. There were nearly as many fish as there were participants, as 300 rainbow brook trout were released into a holding tank for the young anglers to catch. The fish were purchased by the Straits Area Sportsmen's Club from Cedarbrook Trout Farms. Volunteers from the St. Ignace Fire Department helped put together the 1,500-gallon portable fish tank.

Anglers also could fish in the ponds nearby, which flourish with perch, sunfish, bullhead catfish, and even snapping turtles.

"The kids found a huge turtle, probably 25 to 30 pounds, and they were feeding it perch from their fishing lines," said Louie Colegrove, president of the Sportsmen's Club, who helps coordinate the event each year. "They tried to pull it up on shore but there was no way, he was too big!"

Smokey the Bear made an appearance, saying hello to the children and posing for photographs.

At right: Four-year-old Gabbie Huhn of St. Ignace shows off her trophy catch. (Photograph courtesy of Louie Colegrove) The entire day was sunny and warm. Later in the afternoon, children volunteered to remove the trout from the holding tank, as it was becoming too warm for the fish to survive. The children grabbed fishing nets, scooped them up, and released them into the ponds.

"The kids ate that up," said Mr. Colegrove. "They loved it."

More than 90 prizes were awarded to participants.

Also volunteering help at the event were rangers from Hiawatha National Forest and St. Ignace Lions Club. Other agencies involved were Michigan State University 4-H Youth Program, Tri-County Wildlife Unlimited, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.