Gainesville —
A group of local students snagged some big fish at Wednesday’s angling
event at Keneteso Park in Gainesville.
The students were from life skills classes at Gainesville ISD,
Muenster ISD and other schools.
This is the second year for the Challenged Youth Fishing Event. The
fishing outing pairs students with state park officers, area teachers
and other volunteers who help the kids fish in the city lake off South
Weaver Street.
Last year’s kid fish was a success despite some intermittent rain.
Weather for this year’s fishing outing was nearly perfect — light
wind, clear skies and warm temperatures.
The kid fish event was designed to teach fishing skills, Cooke County
game warden and event organizer Darla Barr said.
“Events like this will hopefully spark the students’ love of the
outdoors,” she said. “ Hopefully they will use their (fishing
equipment) prizes and develop a love for fishing and other outdoor
activities.”
The fish caught during the event were measured and released. Most were
small to medium-sized catfish.
A few — including a fish snagged by student Landin Lewis — were a little larger.
Lewis was the top male angler at the event. His catfish measured 20
3/8 inches long.
Yessenia Martinez was the top female competitor. Her fish was 20 1/2
inches long.
Hunter Sorrell and Daniel Fleitman both hooked nine fish and tied for
highest number of fish caught.
Muenster ISD teacher Neal Merritt said the fishing event was a
highlight of the school year for some students in his district.
“Our kids had a blast,” Merritt wrote in an email about the event.
“The fishing, the food, the prizes, they were all unexpected and
really appreciated.”
Barr said a lot of hard work goes into the fishing event, but it’s
worth the effort.
“ Four of the kids in this group, it was their first time to actually
catch a fish,” Barr said. “They’re making memories that last a
lifetime.”
She said she’s grateful for the people and organizations who helped
with the fishing expedition and cookout.
They include A&P Travel Center, Cliff Spindle Guide Service, Alan
Baldwin, Robert Baldwin, Ricky Mobley, Randy Travis, Falls Marine
Center, Cooke County 4-H, Texas Game Warden Association, Gainesville
Police Chief Steven Fleming and Sgt. Bobby Balthrop, Jeff and Adam
Arendt of Cooke County Emergency Medical Services, state park staff
Jerry Vaughan, Bethany Galster, Josh Hall and Eric Anderson and a crew
from the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Department who mowed and
tidied up the fishing spot at Keneteso Park.
Barr said she hopes to make the challenged youth fishing event an
annual occurrence.
“It’s something that’s growing, and I hope to have it every year,” she said.
Barr said her volunteers were kept busy assisting students who snagged
fish almost as quickly as their baited hooks hit the water.
“Of course it wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers,” she said.
“ They help out when things start getting fast and furious.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Volunteers help local life skills students fish at the Keneteso Park lake in Gainesville. Cooke County Game Warden Darla Barr and a group of volunteers including GISD teachers and state park officers hosted the angling event Wednesd Staff photo by Delania Trigg
Guest Book
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