Family Fishing coming

Ten-year-olds  Jordan Geisel of St. Peters and Clayton Grisham of O’Fallon, Mo., both like to catch fish. 

But, both admit they let their parents handle the fish once they are caught. 

The two youngsters were among many who took part in last month’s Kid’s Fishing Day in rural St. Charles County. The event was at the Busch Memorial Conservation Area.

One group of youngsters and adults taking part was from the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kinloch. They were part of the church’s “Boys to Men Fellowship.” 

One of the group, 11-year-old Foyd Hart II, was there with his dad. The fifth grader said he had been fishing before with his grandmother in Alabama. But, this was the first time with his father, Foyd II.

His father said, “It’s been 25 years since I’ve been fishing. But, we’re getting something started as a family tradition here.”

Deacon Keith Youngblood identified Deneco Wilson, a 7-year-old, as the group’s “best fisherman.” Deneco caught two fish within the first few minutes. One of reasons for his success was that he was patient. 

Many children along the lake shores yanked on their lines at the first indication a fish was biting. Those who waited until the bobber stayed under the water caught the most fish.

Conservation agents were on hand to give fishing tips. They also made it easy for the youngsters to take part in the fishing. There was fishing gear ready to be loaned to families who needed extra rods and reels. 

And, after the fishing was done, other volunteers cleaned the newly-caught fish at a special meeting tent. They cooked the fillets so kids could taste their catch. 

Volunteer Glenda Myers of St. Charles said, “We also have extra fillets to cook for those who didn’t catch any.” The fish were fried with potatoes and onions and seasoned with spices for better taste. 

The Busch area will be the site in June of another special family event. Families who want to learn the basics of fishing can attend a Family Fishing Fair  from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. 

Marvin Boyer, a fisheries management biologist, said, “Family members can take fishing lessons and then find their own fishing spot. That will be a free fishing day at Busch.” 

The Busch area is just off Highway 40-61 at the Augusta exit. It has 32 “sizeable” lakes, including one that is 182 acres. For more information about the Family Fishing Fair, you can call (636) 441-4554. 

At the Kid’s Fishing Day, Jordan Geisel was there with a 10-year-old friend as well as her father, Mike, and her grandfather, Eddie Kidder, of St. Peters. 

Jordan said she and the family got up at 5 a.m. “I like to get up early,” she said. 

Her dad was on hand with a large fishing tackle box and spare equipment. He needed an extra reel when Jordan’s line got a big snag on one of her casts. 

Clayton Grisham and his younger brother, Brandon, both used fishing tackle supplied by the conservation volunteers. Their mother, Emily, was on hand to bait the hook and take off any caught fish. 

Clayton said, “I like to catch the fish but don’t like to put the worms on the hook or take the fish off.” He did catch a keepable fish. Kids could keep the sunfish, crappies and catfish but had to return any bass they caught. 

Weather for the Kid’s Fishing Day was nearly ideal. The early morning was cool but sunny and the temperature warmed to near 70 by the time the event was over. Boyer said early spring is an excellent time for kids to fish. 

Sunfish and catfish are the easiest to catch this time of the year. 

Crickets or worms are good bait for sunfish if they are suspended by a bobber two or three feet below the surface. For catfish, nightcrawlers or a piece of chicken liver put near the lake bottom are the best, Boyer said.