Gone Fishin

Vernon-The third annual Take Me Fishing Day took place on June 12 at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge on Rt. 565 in Vernon. While seasoned fishermen may like rainy dull weather, the organizers of the event couldn't have been happier to see clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid 70s, which made it very pleasant for the children who participated in the event. The event was co-sponsored by Wal-Mart, which supplied the fishing paraphernalia, and the Double V Rod and Gun Club, which donated large-mouth bass, bluegills and catfish for the pond. "Today is all about catching a fish and giving the kids an appreciation for the environment. With the help of the Double V, we show them proper casting techniques and how to identify the fish they catch," said Kevin Lowry, a volunteer environmental educator. "For the younger kids it's very important to actually catch a fish, so we make sure that each child gets a Polaroid photo with their catch before it is released back into the water." There were two fishing sessions, morning and afternoon, with 15 participants per session. "We discussed the mission of the wildlife refuge a little bit and identified the different fish that they could possibly catch," said Lowry. "We also made sure that each child went home with either one of the fishing rods or tackle boxes that were donated by Wal-Mar