Attention kids, get your chores done and let mom and dad know you need a ride to Fresno Reservoir Saturday for a fun fishing day. The Fresno Youth Challenge will again offer area children a day of fishing with the big boys, as Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited and Devon Energy sponsor their annual free kids fishing day from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Parents are welcome to bring their boats, but if you do not have one I will set you up on a boat with a captain who will take you out for some fun fishing competition," said Fresno Youth Challenge Coordinator Doug Grubb of Devon Energy. "Walleyes members will be providing the boats, equipment, bait and tackle and volunteering their time as captains. We can take out a total of 50 teams, two members per team, on the boats. But you do not need a boat to be in the tournament and have fun. You can fish from shore. In fact the team that won last year was fishing from shore." Grubb said the payoff for the Fresno Walleyes and Devon Energy volunteers is the satisfaction of introducing children to the sport of fishing and keeping the tradition alive. "One of the great parts for us who put this on is that a lot of the kids that come have never been in a boat or fished from a boat," Grubb said. "It’s a great thing to take them out." The days will begin with a rules and instructions meeting. Then kids will be teamed up in pairs and their captains will take them around the lake and show them how to attempt to catch the big ones. "Parents can get on the boats with their kids, it’s a really family oriented time," Grubb said. " We will all meet at the Walleyes Pavilion (on the southeast end of the reservoir) at 8:30 a.m. and we’ll have a short rules meeting, pretty much just telling the kids what is expected. We treat it like a regular tournament with competition and camaraderie. A lot of kids and parents who have never met group up in the boats. "The kids will get their fish weighed like in a tournament, but its mainly for fun," Grubb added. "Then everyone will head in to the pavilion from noon to 1 p.m. for the barbecue lunch, which will be followed by picture taking and prize giving," Grubb said every kid participating will receive a fishing pole courtesy of Devon Energy, and a Fresno Youth Challenge T-shirt courtesy of the Devon Energy's Havre office staff. "There will also be tournament prizes," Grubb said. "There will be prizes for catching the largest of most of the species out there, the largest Walleye, the largest Northern and Perch." The event is geared toward giving first- through eighthgraders a grand fishing experience, but those interested outside the standard age group are welcome to attend. And its all free. Grubb, who has been involved with the Fresno Youth Challenge for close to six years, said that when Fresno Walleyes started the event close to 10 years ago it was supported mainly by funds raised at the annual Walleyes banquet. Since Devon Energy signed on as a major sponsor, more of the banquet funds have been able to benefit recreational enhancements at Fresno Reservoir. Many of the kids attending the Youth Challenge on Saturday will have already met the event coordinators during the Fresno Walleyes Kids Education Day event being held today at the Fresno Walleyes Pavilion. The Education Day began at 10 a.m. On average, 150 to 250 school kids attend this annual events, depending on the number of other youth activities going on in the area. The Education Day includes learning stations where children are taught to identify fish species, an appreciation for the management of wildlife and lands, and safety on and near the water. A number of local public safety and management office participate in the instruction. The next Fresno Walleyes Unlimited event will be its annual big money Fresno Challenge Tournament May 17 and 18 at Fresno Reservoir.
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