We stood there with the rain dripping of our hats; we shivered in the cold; and we sat trying to keep ourselves and our equipment dry . . . and, apparently, we loved it! I'm talking about LVH Fishing Club helping NW Steelheaders, CCFF and ODFW at Kid's Fishing Day at Big Creek on Saturday June 9th.

Since Friday was a beautiful, sunny day we had high hopes that Saturday would follow, however, it wasn't to be. We started at 7:00 a.m. and huddled under cover to enjoy the hot coffee and donuts (thanks, Greg). Then the small pool was filled with fish (for the little tikes), Butch and Bud set up to show the kids how to tie a fly, Alan and his group were busy stuffing fliers - and this was all before the kids came to fish. I would like to insert a note here: Jason, one of our recent grads from the RAP Program, was there at 7:00 a.m. and proved to be a great help to us. Good job, Jason! Rain didn't seem to stop the kids from coming. The big buses brought them to the park and then the shuttle bus was loaded up to bring kids and parents to the fishing spot. Volunteers were there to greet them all as they got off the bus, hand the kids their fishing poles, help them with bait, show them how to cast and (best of all) help them reel in their fish. It was so damp outside that Bud Roark had the envelopes holding his feathers seal shut! I have to admit that I had to quit about noon (I had all kinds of excuses) and some had to leave early due to other appointments (why didn't I think of that?) but most stayed the entire day.

As always, watching a child catch his or her first fish is a joy that is not to be forgotten. We all considered ourselves the lucky ones to be able to experience it.

First Lady