First Kid's River Day a Success

The first Kid's River Day, a collaborative effort of the Dover High School Outdoors Pursuits Class, NH Fish & Game's Let's Go Fishing Program and Great Bay Trout Unlimited, was held on the Cocheco River on June 6th. The day was somewhat foreboding as it was raining, often quite hard with a strong threat of thunder storms in the local forecast. Despite the conditions, twelve Dover HS students, who had been studying and practicing fly fishing skills as part of their Outdoor Pursuits Class under the tutelage of Dover teacher, John McKernan, showed up on this dreary wet morning to try their luck at actual fly fishing on the Cocheco River. Volunteer river hosts turned out in large enough numbers to offer a one on one experience for each student through most of the day. With flies expertly tied by Great Bay TU board member, Mark Seymour, the students hit the water well armed and confident.

It didn't take long before the words "fish on!" were heard up and down the river, oftimes over the din of sheets of rain hitting the water. Spirits ran high as the morning wore on.

After a lunch of hot pizza and some well needed hydration supplied by Weeksie's Pizza, the boys were back at it again for the early afternoon. The lightning and thunder held off until the event concluded, but it was not long after a thunder storm rolled through. A little luck and fishing does go hand in hand!

During the course of the day the students were able to utilize their casting and knot tying skills, most experiencing the success of a fish coming to the net, only to be gently released back into the river. The river hosts worked with the students on reading the water and with various methods of presenting the fly. At the end of the day all of the students admitted to having had a great time, and the message that taking care of the river as paramount to preserving this opportunity was well received and understood.

Great Bay Trout Unlimited would like to thank all of the volunteers who took a day of their personal time to venture out on a dark wet day to help make this experience possible for this group of students. We are sure it will be a day that will glow in their memories for a long time.