Zion, Aiinday and Adanya Giles of Fredericksburg, visiting relatives near Crozet with their dad Lorenzo Giles, were among the most successful fishers at Kids Fishing Day at Mint Springs Valley Park April 25. Casting in a chilly rain, the boys caught three trout, while their sister effortlessly snagged five. It seemed that they made a dash for her hook.
The event was sponsored by Trout Unlimited, which arranged for the park’s lakes to be stocked with somewhere between 500 and 1,000 Brook and Rainbow Trout a few days before.
Kids Fishing Day was begun 20 years ago by David Johnson, said James “Chubby” Damron, president of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter of Trout Unlimited, one of 15 chapters in Virginia that total more than 4,000 members.
The event was named for Johnson in 2000. Kids are allowed one pole and can fish without a license on that day.
“He really loved fishing and he wanted it passed to kids,” said Damron. “We raise money from an access permit we control to a stretch of the Moormans River and the proceeds pay for Kids Day.” The chapter also sponsors a November event at the park for disabled anglers with Charlottesville-based Therapeutic Adventures.
“Today was light because of the Dogwood Parade and the rain,” Damron said. He described the stocking as “pretty heavy” with several nets of fish introduced to the lakes. Fish range from seven to 22 inches in length. Twenty inches is considered a trophy fish.
“[The trout] learn pretty fast when they are put in. These are looking for food. They’re cruising around,” said Damron.
“Trout licenses are falling. People don’t realize what Virginia has for trout fishing. Around here there’s the Moormans River and Sugar Hollow and the Conway river in Greene County and the South River in Waynesboro. The fishing here is attracting tourists. They’ve heard about us.”
