Stories & Photos

Do you have a story to share? If you have a story that you'd like to share (funny or otherwise), please contact Teri Mehn, Executive Director of the Montana Game Wardens Association (MGWA) at 406-449-2040 or email her at mehn@imt.net. We would like to hear your story and will consider posting it on this website for all to read. Feel free to submit a photo or two with your story, and we will post that too.

1st Annual Kids Fishing Day

Story by Rick Schmauch, State Game Warden (Fish, Wildlife & Parks).

This story took place at the Jefferson County Sportsman's Club with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks at Piedmont Pond, Whitehall, Montana On July 23, 2006

While I was attending a Jefferson County Sportsman's Club meeting in June of 2006, one of the members, Keith Pietsch brought up the thought of having a kids fishing day, the event was actually thought of by his wife. The location to be used was Piedmont Fishing Access, a small pond built with grant money and donations from the Sun Light Gold Mine on land donated by Dave Smith. This pond /FAS is only a couple of years old and is still being developed as a community fishing pond and recreation site. I offered my services as the local Game Warden and informed the group I would request monetary assistance from the Montana Game Warden Association, as well as miscellaneous supplies from the fish Ed program. The plan was a go.

The Montana Game Warden Association approved the request for $200 to assist with the event. Items purchased with the $200 were food and beverage items to be used through out the day and for a closing barbeque. Dave Hagengruber donated a couple of small bags of fishing lures.

There were 6 members from the Jefferson County Sportsman's Club present, Fisheries Biologist Ron Spoon, Gregg Corr from the local Newspaper and myself. The event started at 0800 hours and lasted until 1300 hours.

We had approximately 40 children attend the event with ages ranging from 2-12. Most of the children were accompanied by their fathers or grandfathers, with a few bring the entire family.

The event went well, considering the temperature got up to 100 degrees and the fish were really not in the mood to participate. A total of 4 fish were caught and one young man, he ran a fishhook through his ear.

While lunch was being prepared, most of the kids participated in a casting and fish identification presentation put on by Spoon. After lunch I gave a short talk on fish and fishing in Montana and handed out door prizes.

Thanks to all who helped make this event a success, we will be planning on making this an annual event, probably held in May or June.