Kids catch lunkers at Wizard Falls

Ashley Donovan pulled in a whopper weighing 10.2 pounds. Three to four pounds was the average. Grimm and Plank were sure there were even bigger fish out there, but no one caught them.

Over at the fish-shaped story tent, Native American tales from the Yakima Tribe of Washington and the Squamish Indians of British Columbia, Canada enthralled youngsters who could sit still. Colorful fish costumes provided much entertainment for the smallest, while they attempted to act out the stories from ancient days.

Kids practiced casting on the lawn and won prizes for hooking brightly colored plastic fish. Games tables kept the throngs entertained. Rows of paintings were hung to dry after the children created multi-colored prints, using rubber fish, dipped in paints. At a neighboring table, kids tried their hand at creating flys to use fishing in the pond.

A giant cloth salmon at another table could be opened to pull out all the organs, for an easy anatomy lesson.

A surprise visitor appeared at this year's event. Smokey Bear came to remind people to prevent forest fires.

Over at the fishing pond parents helped their kids, or tried, along with several Wizard Falls staff with nets to help pull them in.

Cousins Elena Gonzalez, fishing for her third year, and Grant Carlton (fourth year), were there with parents and grandparents.

Grandparents John and Mrs. McCord had been coming from Washington with their children since 1971. They fell in love with the Camp Sherman area and come every year to fish and relax for two weeks during the time of the free fishing day at the hatchery.

"Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery is more than just fishing," said McCord. "It's a great place to relax and enjoy fishing on the river."

They generally fish the Metolius and many area lakes and go horseback riding. When they ask their kids to choose where they want to go on vacation, they always ask to come here. Last year they stayed for a month.

Sean Willitts caught a whopper last year with his own fly, the first fly he ever made. He returned this year hoping to catch another big one. He fished half an hour with a new fly, but wasn't catching anything. He finally announced he was going to use the lucky fly he made last year and as soon as he put it in the water, he caught his fish. Willitts pulled in a 6.9 pounder with his fly rod.

It's his last year fishing at the event, as he turned ten this year.