This is the week to look for the Thank You ad and any photos or write-ups about the June 14, 2014, Neil McKenzie Youth Fishing Derby printed in area papers. If you haven't received or purchased your copy yet, be sure to pick up a copy of one or more of the following newspapers: Amery Free Press, Burnett County Sentinel, County Ledger Press, Intercounty Leader, or The (Osceola) Sun!

Although the fishing derby is done for another year, you are welcome to keep posting your KEEP KIDS FISHIN' in Facebook.  Keeping sharing your kids' fishing stories or photos to inspire others! PS: Mark your calendars for another kids' day of fishing on June 13, 2015. Pre-registration will happen in May 2015!

Is it any wonder that the kids' fishing derby is such a success with sponsors like this one?!?  If anyone happened to stop by the Frederic Design & Promotion shop last August, you might have seen this photo.  Now THAT'S what we consider having one's priorities in order!  ;-)   Thanks, again, everyone for making this year's Neil McKenzie Youth Fishing Derby another memorable event for so many people!  Have fun this weekend -- do what you can to KEEP KIDS FISHIN'!

A musky-sized thank you goes out to the Lake Association and Lagoon Association homeowners, as well as the many individuals from the area, who donated use of their pontoons and boats to KEEP KIDS FISHIN' during the Neil McKenzie Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 14, 2014. 

THANK YOU to the following individuals and their families for providing watercraft to take kids fishing: Bob Thompson, Bob Wright, Eric Eichelt, Steve Jacobs, Steve Leslie, Jim Longhenry, Gene Hendricks, Justin Reese, Steve Klinger, Todd Christianson, Byron Bille, Bill Bluhm, Bob Fedderly, Bill Foussard, Phil Foussard, Carl Hansen, Gary Hauschildt, Steve Leslie, Curt Liljenberg, Ken McKenzie, Steve Munson, Les "Popeye" Smith, Bob Spinner, and Bink Ward. Thank you, too, to the families who brought their kids fishing!   :-)     (Photo provided by Melissa W.)

Bet you never saw so many people smiling in the rain as you saw Saturday at the fishing derby!  THANK YOU, everyone, for deciding it was going to be a great day and making it a fun event -- even with a little rain.  The stormy weather stayed away from Deer Lake, and people fished, cooked, guided, and SMILED in the rain!

Please share photos and fishing stores at our Facebook page.  More information will be typed up and posted at the website over the next week.... names of kids receiving trophies, names of key sponsors, and so on.

For now, please know that YOU made a difference in a kid's life last Saturday --  by bringing a kid to fish, by teaching a kid to fish, by soliciting door prizes, preparing food, setting up tents, driving a boat or pontoon, or helping with the myriad of tasks before, during, and after this fun fishing day.  

THANK YOU for helping us to KEEP KIDS FISHIN'! 

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!  If we have a good morning of fishing but realize a drenching downpour is going to take out the afternoon, we might move lunch and prizes to the Balsam Lake Rod & Gun Club.  IF this decision is made, announcements will be posted on the website and at Facebook; and, of course, relayed on site to all.

If we do relocate to the Balsam Lake Rod & Gun Club for the afternoon activities, that address is 1472 - 150th St., Centuria, WI 54824. Easy driving directions are to travel east from the Lagoon approximately 1.5 miles, turn North on 150th Street for a couple miles(?). Gun Club will be on your right. 

If anyone has a change in plans, PLEASE notify us of your need to miss this year's fishing derby.  Thank you!

And, finally, we have the following kids joining us June 14: Mason, 12; Adam, 10; Russell, 15; Nolan, 14; and the Tulgren kids!
Thank you, everyone, who contacted us about having kids fish with us this year.  We are planning spaces on boats and pontoons for them!
Any other kids will be placed on a waiting list and, of course, invited to pre-register early next year.  REQUEST: IF anyone who has pre-registered has a change in plans, PLEASE notify us of your need to miss this year's fishing derby so we might be able to take another kid fishing.  Thank you!