Angling to Help Kids : Fishing Derby One of Many Volunteer Day Activities

Young fisherman Kevin Hernandez reeled in the biggest rainbow trout at Saturday’s Kids Day Fishing Derby at Santa Ana River Lakes.

The 11-year-old’s secret to catching the 9-pound, 4-ounce fish: “Just luck.”

But Kevin, of Tustin, who won a new tackle box, had no plans to eat his prize. “I think I’m going to have it mounted and put it in my room.”

Provided with night crawlers and tackle, about 200 youngsters participated in the annual fishing competition, hosted by the King Fishers Angling Club of Orange County.

For the last 25 years, the angling club, with support from local business and industry and scores of volunteers, has put on the event for children ages 2 to 16.

About half of the youngsters who participate are from underprivileged homes and many are involved with local Boys and Girls Clubs as well as other community organizations that target children.

This year, the club received a boost from the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County as part of its annual Volunteer Connection Day on Saturday. There were 12,631 volunteers who participated in 91 projects in 28 Orange County cities, providing more than $647,000 worth of services.

The derby, with top anglers taking home prizes, is a way to introduce the sport to youngsters and teach them how to fish.

“It’s something they can carry on for the rest of their lives,” said Marlon Meade, 38, a King Fishers club member who has volunteered to organize the derby for 20 years.

“It’s exciting to see a child catch his first fish. All it takes is for them to catch one fish--and they’re hooked.”

“Some of them have never had a pole in their hand,” Meade said. Meade, who began fishing as a boy, said it’s “a wonderful learning experience for the children” and offers them a positive challenge.

*

Jeanette D. Wood, volunteer center spokeswoman, said the event was the culmination of National Volunteer Week and that many of the people participated for the first time.

“This day is not an ends, but a means. We want to get people connected to their community and make them realize the impact they can make by volunteering,” Wood said.

The event, she added, “helps to get rid of the stereotypes of volunteering” because of the diversity of projects that ranged from the fishing derby to refurbishing wheelchairs, fixing up homes for disabled seniors, cleaning up the coastline and giving dental care to needy students.

In Costa Mesa, 1,225 volunteers pulled weeds, pruned shrub overgrowth, painted houses, removed graffiti, picked up trash and planted flowers to spruce up a blighted neighborhood.

At an Irvine agricultural field, 182 volunteers harvested 22,000 pounds of cabbage to feed the county’s hungry. Jim Kay, volunteer coordinator of the Food Distribution Center in Orange, said 60 volunteers sorted 6,200 pounds of food that will be delivered to 294 Orange County charities.

At the fishing derby, about 100 volunteers--the largest number of volunteers in the event’s history--showed the young anglers how to set up their poles, bait the hook, cast a fishing rod and reel in their catch.

Bob Vigil, 54, of Huntington Beach, a self-described “fishing nut,” came out for one reason: “I like to help out the kids because fishing is a good, healthy sport and it helps to keep them off the street.”

The young anglers credit volunteers for showing them how catch fish.

Catie Garrett, 14, has competed in the derby since 1988 and has won first place four times. This year, she won an award for best overall fisherman because year after year, she has consistently pulled in fish.

“I enjoy fishing because when you throw in the pole, feel the tug and then reel in the fish, it’s just a lot of fun,” said Catie, of Anaheim, who caught four trout in Saturday’s derby.

Amanda Ishii, 12, of Tustin, credits her dad, Wyle, for showing her everything she knows about fishing. Amanda, who won a first prize for catching a 5-pound, 8-ounce trout, said, “My dad’s one of the best fishermen around.”