More than 250 kids go fishing

WARWICK - There are two schools of thought among fisherman. When it’s cloudy and rainy, the fish are biting. And when it’s beautiful, they’re not. Saturday, May 5, the date of Warwick’s annual “Kid’s Fishing Day, was picture perfect and while it may be true that fishing is better on a cloudy wet day, the youngsters were still catching plenty of them and the adults were perfectly happy with the sunshine and mild temperatures. Earlier that morning, the Warwick Valley Rod & Gun Club, incorporated in 1945, stocked approximately 500 trout including 10 “golden trout,” in Wawayanda Creek on Baird Farm. The picturesque farm, which has often served as a backdrop for television and print media commercials, was again the site of the popular event held for children who live in the Town of Warwick. As an added first time attraction this year, club volunteers were on hand to clean your catch and package it on ice for the trip home. “Take a Kid Fishing Day,” organized by Club members for youngsters under age 14, is provided annually for children who do not have access to a stream or the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife and environment surrounding their community. Although many of the approximately 250 participants were successful, a child did not have to catch a fish to win one of the prizes awarded at the close of the event. Since it is not a contest, it has been the practice for the Club to award a prize to every participating child, whether the child was lucky that day or not. The prizes, most of which were donated by the local business community and some individuals, included fishing rod and reel combos, tackle boxes, lures and other outdoor recreation items. The club also held a brief live auction at the close of the day. The item that generated lots of excitement was six box seats to Sunday’s Yankee game. In recent years, as a result of the growth of the community, attendance at this event has grown dramatically. Contributions collected during the day and proceeds from the sale of food and refreshments will be used exclusively for next year’s “Take a Kid Fishing Day.”