Some get early practice for Kids' Fishing Fair

Twelve-year-old Alex Rohlfing and 10-year-old Nicolette Napolitano got in some early fishing practice last month. They were preparing for one of the "funnest" early-spring outdoor events in the St. Louis metro area.

That's the Kids' Fishing Fair at Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County. The event this year will be held Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and no reservations are needed.

The Fair is open to kids up to 15 years of age. Everyone is invited, regardless of fishing skill. You can get lessons from experienced conservation volunteers. .

There are even "loaner" rods if you don't have your own fishing tackle. For information and directions, you can call the Busch area at (636) 441-4554.

Alex and Nicolette were among 15 kids who got a head start on the fishing season in April. They had a warm, sunny Saturday to get personal basic fishing instruction in advance of May's Kids' Fishing Fair.

Alex is a 7th grader at Christ Community Lutheran School in Kirkwood. He said he started fishing at age 4 at a Crestwood Parks and Recreation Fishing Day. So far, his biggest catch was a 4-pound catfish.

He said he likes fishing because he gets a chance to be outdoors. He said most of the time he "just takes a picture and puts the fish back in the lake." But, he said he did clean and eat his fish twice.

Nicolette is a 4th grade home schooled kid from St. Charles. She said she had her first fishing experience in Florida when she was just 2. She said she was born in Florida and has been on "about a hundred fishing trips."

Although she's had experience, she said she learned how to tie a new knot at the class.

Nine-year-old Bradley Lai and his younger sister, 7-year-old Melinda, also were at the early basic class. The two Taiwan-born kids started fishing a couple years ago after they moved to St. Louis.

They live in Chesterfield but are students at Henry Elementary School in Ballwin.

Bradley said he caught his biggest fish, an 8.9-pound catfish, while fishing at a "giant pond" at a friend's house. Melinda said she hasn't caught a fish yet.

Asked about baiting her hook, Melinda said, "I don't like worms."

One of the lessons at their fishing class was how to put night-crawlers on the fishing hook. Because their hooks were small, that meant they used only a piece of a worm.

The volunteer showed them how to pinch off a piece of the tail. He said, "It doesn't hurt the worm because they don't have that type of nervous system."

The kids also got a chance to practice casting their hook and bait into the lake. Then, there was some time for actual fishing. Again, there were "loaner" rods and reels for those who didn't have any tackle.

Nine-year-old Cody Lemay is a student at Westridge Elementary School in Ballwin. He said he caught his biggest fish at Wentzville while on a school trip.

He said he not only likes to go fishing but he likes to cut up and cook what he catches. He cleans his own fish.

Cody sports a ear ring that he got on his grandmother's 80th birthday. He said he and his grandmother both decided to get their ears pierced for the first time on her birthday.

Eight-year-old Dustin Readenour is a classmate of Cody's. They came together for the fishing lesson.

He said he's been on at least 10 fishing trips, mostly to the Busch conservation area. He said he caught his biggest fish, a large-mouth bass, at Lake 2. But, he says he likes Lake 28 the best.

He said, whenever he catches a fish, he releases it back into the lake. He lives in Ballwin and has a fishing lake in Vlassis Park, near his home.

Eight-year-old Kaycee Georgevitch is a second grader at Cedar Springs Elementary School. That's in House Springs, MO.

Asked about her catches, she said, "I don't think I've ever caught a big fish. They're mostly bluegills."

But, she said she'll be at the Kids Fishing Day event to try her luck again. You ought to join them.