If you enjoyed fishing today, you may want to try fishing at one of these local sites
that have fishing piers accessible from shore. Enjoy!
(Be sure to find out size/limit restrictions for each lake.)
Atlas County Park on Long Trade Lake, Atlas
Big Butter Nut Lake, Luck
Bone Lake, rural Luck
Half Moon Lake, rural Milltown
Kennedy’s Mill, rural Amery
Long Lake, rural Centuria
Lake of the Dalles, Interstate Park
If you enjoyed your time here today, please thank your guide!
This is a volunteer-run event focused on getting kids fishing.
Thank you for your participation!
that have fishing piers accessible from shore. Enjoy!
(Be sure to find out size/limit restrictions for each lake.)
Atlas County Park on Long Trade Lake, Atlas
Big Butter Nut Lake, Luck
Bone Lake, rural Luck
Half Moon Lake, rural Milltown
Kennedy’s Mill, rural Amery
Long Lake, rural Centuria
Lake of the Dalles, Interstate Park
If you enjoyed your time here today, please thank your guide!
This is a volunteer-run event focused on getting kids fishing.
Thank you for your participation!
General Information...
KEEP KIDS FISHIN'!
- The mission of this day is to get kids excited about the outdoors and to have FUN fishing!
- Thank you for remembering we are granted use of private property for this day.
- Please car-pool as much as possible since parking is at an extreme minimum.
- Vehicles MUST be parked up above the Lagoon in the designated lot (next to Hwy. 8).
- If unloading boats at the public landing, PLEASE be vigilant -- and patient!
- Volunteers are asked to sign-in at the Lagoon.
- Fisherkids are asked to check-in upon arrival and to wait in line for boat assignment.
- Be kind. Be patient. Help one another. Smile. Laugh.
- Lunch will be served around 12:30 with prizes awarded in the afternoon as usual.
- Please use the garbage and recycling containers and work to keep the lake and land clean.
KEEP KIDS FISHIN'!
Register before May 20
Click on the registration tab.
Click on the registration tab.
Dress for the Day!
For those who participated in the past, you know that dedicated volunteers and kids do FISH IN THE RAIN! (Safety IS followed with no boats on the water during lightning storms.) However, one must always be prepared. :)
Please dress appropriately for the day's activities and weather -- and bring your preferred style of rain gear! (just in case)
Thank you for pre-registering before May 20. Doing so ensures we can plan for enough food, boats, drivers, and guides. Depending upon the number of kids wishing to fish this year, we may need to start a Waiting List. Therefore, it is IMPORTANT that everyone pre-registers. Likewise, we ask that you notify us if your plans change so someone else on the waiting list will have a chance to fish this year. THANK YOU!!
The Fishing Derby has gone "social"!
Please post your fishing photos and stories throughout the year at
Facebook's Neil McKenzie Memorial Youth Fishing Derby
https://www.facebook.com/NeilMckenzieYouthFishingDerby?fref=ts
Please post your fishing photos and stories throughout the year at
Facebook's Neil McKenzie Memorial Youth Fishing Derby
https://www.facebook.com/NeilMckenzieYouthFishingDerby?fref=ts
Get Your Gear Ready!
Saturday's fishing day will be here soon! If you are bringing your own gear, make a list so you remember everything:
Life Vest, Laughter, Fishing Pole, Fun, Bait/Lures, Snacks, Smiles.
If, when you pre-registered, you identified a need for a life vest and/or fishing rod, you can get those after checking in on Saturday morning. Good luck!!
Life Vest, Laughter, Fishing Pole, Fun, Bait/Lures, Snacks, Smiles.
If, when you pre-registered, you identified a need for a life vest and/or fishing rod, you can get those after checking in on Saturday morning. Good luck!!
At this point, we are moving ahead with all fishing as planned. However, we do ask that you and your fisher-kids be prepared for a variety of weather (warm, cold, wet, dry, etc.). Fishing is MUCH more fun when one is comfortable!
LAUNCHING BOATS
For those of you launching boats Saturday morning, please consider coming early. This way, you can get to the Lagoon, get your fisher-kids between 8-8:30 a.m., and get fishing as quickly as possible! If you can make arrangements, consider launching your boat on Friday and tying up at a dock on Deer Lake if you know someone who has dock space available. This way, you can drive to that house Saturday morning and avoid the landing! For those of you launching boats Saturday morning, we will have one or two men there to assist you. We have not heard whether or not there will be anyone requesting survey information for the health of Deer Lake. As always, when landings are busy, be patient; be vigilant! It is DNR’s policy that all boat trailers be cleaned of weeds before leaving the landing area. Thank you!
REGISTRATION AND BOARDING BOATS/PONTOONS
Fisher-kids and adults assigned to bass boats and pontoons are asked to register by 8:30 a.m. at The Lagoon landing (east of Hwys 8 & 35; the driveway on the east side of the yellow condos). Limited parking is available at the top of the hill. Please walk down with your rain/fishing gear, etc. Check in and stand where asked so your driver can find you. You will be given a “boarding pass” that has your boat/pontoon driver’s name on it. Please carpool as much as possible!
Boat drivers: Please check in with the volunteers helping with boat assignments. They will assist in pairing fisher-kids with boat drivers/fishing guides. THANK YOU for offering your services and knowledge to these kids!
Pontoon drivers: Kids will check-in and hold a bright green poster with your pontoon name. Please come to them at The Lagoon and escort them to the pontoon. We will have cable ties for you to affix the sign to the side of the pontoon. Thank you! BEGIN FISHING AS SOON AS YOU HAVE YOUR FISHER-KIDS ON BOARD WITH NECESSARY GEAR/VESTS.
COMING IN FOR LUNCH
If a bass boat is to park in the actual lagoon, please use ONLY a trolling motor. Pontoon drivers: PLEASE consider unloading your kids on shore and then tying up pontoons in a “flotilla” – anchored off shore. There is limited (rocky) shoreline for landing pontoons. THANK YOU for your ongoing carefulness and respect for both the property and the pontoon! Lunch will be available from 12:30 – 1:30.
COMING IN FOR DOOR PRIZES, CAKE, AND TROPHIES!
Pontoon drivers: Please unload your fisher-kids so you may return pontoons to their docks. You are invited to drive back to the Lagoon for the closing activities! Ask everyone aboard to clean/pick up the pontoon so it is presentable upon its return. Ensure ALL personal items (and fish!) are carried off the pontoon by the fisher-kids. Thanks!
FINAL WEIGH-IN IS AT 1:30 P.M. (Kids need to be in the weighing line by 1:15)
Announcements and DNR Speaker 1:45 PM
Group Photo 2:00 PM
Cake 2:05 PM
Trophies 2:15 PM Kids receiving a trophy will receive a trophy form when their name is announced. Once completed, and handed in the child will receive their trophy. Engraved trophy plaques will be mailed at a later date.
Door Prizes 2:30 PM
DEPART WITH SMILES, HUGS, GOOD STORIES, AND LASTING MEMORIES!
Thank You from the Friends and Family of Neil McKenzie and the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club
REGISTRATION AND BOARDING BOATS/PONTOONS
At the check-in/registration table, derby volunteers are asked to complete the following duties:
At the Lagoon boat landing, derby volunteers match up kids with bass boat drivers:
NOTE: It is the parents’ responsibility to see that kids have necessary clothing and personal fishing gear. Boat and pontoon drivers must ensure ALL individuals have life vests and may take worms/waxies for fishing bait.
COMING IN FOR LUNCH
To prepare for the lunch crowd, derby volunteers are asked to complete the following activities:
COMING IN FOR DOOR PRIZES, CAKE, WEIGHING OF FISH, AND TROPHIES!
Pontoons: Pontoon drivers are asked to have kids clean off the pontoon ensuring ALL fishing line, worms, paper, personal items, etc., are removed from the pontoon so it can be returned in very good condition to the owner. Unload kids at the Lagoon and return the pontoons to their docks. Return to Lagoon via personal vehicle. Thank you!
Food servers: Set out leftovers and cake for everyone to enjoy. Clean up and store everything afterwards.
Fish Weighers: Weigh fish, write weight on the pages provided that list all of the kids alphabetically within age groups. Review final weight totals to identify top two weights in each age category and species. Write names on whiteboards.
Door Prizes: Each fisher-kid will receive a door prize. Names will be announced as prizes are handed out.
Closing Ceremony, Group Photos, and Trophies: DNR and others make comments and thank sponsors. Group photos taken of fisher-kids and volunteers. Trophies announced and handed out. NOTE: Each fisher-kid receiving a trophy MUST complete or have an adult complete a form showing how the kid’s name should be on the plaque. Joyce then orders the trophy plaques and sends them to the kids who received trophies.
Site: Members of the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club bring and then remove the tents and tables from the grounds. The septic service places and removes the port-a-potties. Volunteers place and remove Kassel Tap cooler/trailer, Sylte trailer, and set-up/tear-down tents. All volunteers are asked to assist in policing the grounds to ensure there is no garbage left anywhere on the property and that all is as it should be.
For those of you launching boats Saturday morning, please consider coming early. This way, you can get to the Lagoon, get your fisher-kids between 8-8:30 a.m., and get fishing as quickly as possible! If you can make arrangements, consider launching your boat on Friday and tying up at a dock on Deer Lake if you know someone who has dock space available. This way, you can drive to that house Saturday morning and avoid the landing! For those of you launching boats Saturday morning, we will have one or two men there to assist you. We have not heard whether or not there will be anyone requesting survey information for the health of Deer Lake. As always, when landings are busy, be patient; be vigilant! It is DNR’s policy that all boat trailers be cleaned of weeds before leaving the landing area. Thank you!
REGISTRATION AND BOARDING BOATS/PONTOONS
Fisher-kids and adults assigned to bass boats and pontoons are asked to register by 8:30 a.m. at The Lagoon landing (east of Hwys 8 & 35; the driveway on the east side of the yellow condos). Limited parking is available at the top of the hill. Please walk down with your rain/fishing gear, etc. Check in and stand where asked so your driver can find you. You will be given a “boarding pass” that has your boat/pontoon driver’s name on it. Please carpool as much as possible!
Boat drivers: Please check in with the volunteers helping with boat assignments. They will assist in pairing fisher-kids with boat drivers/fishing guides. THANK YOU for offering your services and knowledge to these kids!
Pontoon drivers: Kids will check-in and hold a bright green poster with your pontoon name. Please come to them at The Lagoon and escort them to the pontoon. We will have cable ties for you to affix the sign to the side of the pontoon. Thank you! BEGIN FISHING AS SOON AS YOU HAVE YOUR FISHER-KIDS ON BOARD WITH NECESSARY GEAR/VESTS.
COMING IN FOR LUNCH
If a bass boat is to park in the actual lagoon, please use ONLY a trolling motor. Pontoon drivers: PLEASE consider unloading your kids on shore and then tying up pontoons in a “flotilla” – anchored off shore. There is limited (rocky) shoreline for landing pontoons. THANK YOU for your ongoing carefulness and respect for both the property and the pontoon! Lunch will be available from 12:30 – 1:30.
COMING IN FOR DOOR PRIZES, CAKE, AND TROPHIES!
Pontoon drivers: Please unload your fisher-kids so you may return pontoons to their docks. You are invited to drive back to the Lagoon for the closing activities! Ask everyone aboard to clean/pick up the pontoon so it is presentable upon its return. Ensure ALL personal items (and fish!) are carried off the pontoon by the fisher-kids. Thanks!
FINAL WEIGH-IN IS AT 1:30 P.M. (Kids need to be in the weighing line by 1:15)
Announcements and DNR Speaker 1:45 PM
Group Photo 2:00 PM
Cake 2:05 PM
Trophies 2:15 PM Kids receiving a trophy will receive a trophy form when their name is announced. Once completed, and handed in the child will receive their trophy. Engraved trophy plaques will be mailed at a later date.
Door Prizes 2:30 PM
DEPART WITH SMILES, HUGS, GOOD STORIES, AND LASTING MEMORIES!
Thank You from the Friends and Family of Neil McKenzie and the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club
REGISTRATION AND BOARDING BOATS/PONTOONS
At the check-in/registration table, derby volunteers are asked to complete the following duties:
- Set-up table and easels to hold required paperwork, registration slips, boating information, etc.
- For 2014, the kids TAKE their slips with them since the slips have on them the name of the pontoon or driver!
- Ask pontoon kids to wait in one area and hold the green pontoon sign and cable ties. The pontoon driver will come to the group and find his/her kids and escort them to the pontoon for boarding. The pontoon driver will affix the green pontoon sign to the side of the pontoon for the day. Pontoons can leave once all are boarded.
- Ask kids assigned to bass boats to wait in another area for derby coordinators to assist them to bass boats.
- Once check-in is complete, pack up paperwork and supplies in an orderly fashion, take down the easels, see if the table is needed elsewhere, and ensure all names are processed for door prizes. (This might mean coordinating with Kelly Sylte or whomever is in charge of drawing/dispensing door prizes.)
At the Lagoon boat landing, derby volunteers match up kids with bass boat drivers:
- A master list of fisher-kids and their assigned bass boats will be provided to derby volunteers.
- Ask bass boat drivers to wait in one area. Get name of bass boat driver and match up with kids.
- Have bass boat driver sign the volunteer roster providing name, email, cell phone, and signature.
- Bass boats must use trolling motor in The Lagoon. Boats may head out to fish once loaded.
- Ensure ALL have required life vests and needed gear.
NOTE: It is the parents’ responsibility to see that kids have necessary clothing and personal fishing gear. Boat and pontoon drivers must ensure ALL individuals have life vests and may take worms/waxies for fishing bait.
COMING IN FOR LUNCH
To prepare for the lunch crowd, derby volunteers are asked to complete the following activities:
- Meet and greet one another! Decide who wants to oversee which task.
- Set up tables for an efficient serving line with a separate table available for condiments.
- Remember to warm up and stir beans – this usually occurs at electrical outlet near the fish weighing area.
- Keep ALL bread bags for bagging of any leftovers.
- Grill and prepare food for serving from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Volunteers not serving food might stroll around picnic tables, see that people are helping themselves to pop, water, and fruit. Help clean tables and pick up food items that fall to the ground – or ask person to pick it up!!
COMING IN FOR DOOR PRIZES, CAKE, WEIGHING OF FISH, AND TROPHIES!
Pontoons: Pontoon drivers are asked to have kids clean off the pontoon ensuring ALL fishing line, worms, paper, personal items, etc., are removed from the pontoon so it can be returned in very good condition to the owner. Unload kids at the Lagoon and return the pontoons to their docks. Return to Lagoon via personal vehicle. Thank you!
Food servers: Set out leftovers and cake for everyone to enjoy. Clean up and store everything afterwards.
Fish Weighers: Weigh fish, write weight on the pages provided that list all of the kids alphabetically within age groups. Review final weight totals to identify top two weights in each age category and species. Write names on whiteboards.
Door Prizes: Each fisher-kid will receive a door prize. Names will be announced as prizes are handed out.
Closing Ceremony, Group Photos, and Trophies: DNR and others make comments and thank sponsors. Group photos taken of fisher-kids and volunteers. Trophies announced and handed out. NOTE: Each fisher-kid receiving a trophy MUST complete or have an adult complete a form showing how the kid’s name should be on the plaque. Joyce then orders the trophy plaques and sends them to the kids who received trophies.
Site: Members of the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club bring and then remove the tents and tables from the grounds. The septic service places and removes the port-a-potties. Volunteers place and remove Kassel Tap cooler/trailer, Sylte trailer, and set-up/tear-down tents. All volunteers are asked to assist in policing the grounds to ensure there is no garbage left anywhere on the property and that all is as it should be.
