On Sunday March 10th, 2013 the Oceola Fish & Game Club organized a Youth Ice Fishing Event at Beaver Lake Resort. The event was all about getting the youth in our community connected to the outdoors.
A total of 41 people attended the event. With over 13 youth and their eager participating parents, there was no shortness of fun and laughter throughout the day. The four hour event was jammed packed with fun filled events and fishing.
The families were provided with an ice fishing rod, bait and a predrilled hole so they could start fishing as soon as they arrived. With the help of Oceola Fish & Game Club volunteers, the kids were shown the basics of ice fishing.
The rainbow trout fishing action was a bit on the slower side, but the small Sculpins in the lake came out to play. Each time one of the youth caught a Sculpin, you would think they had hooked a ten pound trout! Their smiles and excitement became contagious throughout the crowd.
Thanks to a generous donation by Winfield Cooper Foods, a BBQ Hot Dog lunch with all the fixings was served to the group of young anglers.
After lunch was served, the OFGC volunteers had some fun games planned for everyone. The youth learned how to cast a fishing rod by taking part in a casting challenge. The game involved casting a bobber towards cardboard fish targets on the ice. Once they finished their turn they were awarded with a prize courtesy of BCFishn.com.
The big hit of the day was the fishing bobber and spoon relay game. The group of children and adults were divided into two teams. Before the game could start everyone warmed up by learning the secret fish dance taught by OFGC volunteers. The whistle blew and the teams were off and running. Working their balancing skills, the team members ran to the check point then marched backwards to the starting point all while balancing a bobber on the spoon. If the bobber fell off the spoon, the team member would have to “fish dance” for five seconds with an OFGC volunteer before picking up the bobber again. Within minutes into the game all the children and parents were cheering and performing the fish dance. Laughter filled the air!
Each youth was very engaged in this outdoor event as they demonstrated valuable team work, patience, and sportsmen skills which made them all winners. Thanks to a generous donation by Interior Land Reclamation Ltd., each youth received a winning prize of a new fishing rod and tackle box.
This ice fishing event was a small step for the Oceola Fish & Game Club towards adding more youth driven programs and events to our community. The club plans on growing its youth programs to reach multiple aspects of the outdoorsmen/outdoorswomen in the years to come.
Introducing a young person to the outdoors is a very rewarding experience. It is a skill and livelihood that has been passed down from generation to generation. The Oceola Fish & Game Club encourages all families to get their youth connected to the outdoors and throw a line in the water. You might just catch a smile.
The OFGC would like to recognize all the youth as well as the parents, grandparents & friends, who brought them to this great outdoor experience. This event could not have happened without our great sponsors: Cooper Foods, Interior Land Reclamation Ltd, Beaver Lake Resort and BCFishn.com. Thanks goes out to the OFGC volunteers Bob Vannan, Mike Kamann, Gael Russell, Marina Coyne, Jay & Aly Earl. For more information regarding the OFGC Youth Programs please visit www.Oceola.ca.
To see more pictures of this Youth Event please click here.
Danny Coyne
Volunteer Director & Co-chair Fisheries Committee,
Oceola Fish & Game Club, Winfield BC
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