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New Hampshire Trappers Association
Fishing With The Little Ones
From St Charles Children's Home
By Mel Liston
On February thirteenth, the wonderful children from the Saint Charles Children's Home of Rochester enjoyed another fine day in nature. It was a warm and sunny day with only a slight breeze blowing across the open frozen expanse of Ayers Lake in Barrington. Once again we were invite guests of the Bedford family that owns the Ayers Lake Campground. Volunteers had been busy for a few days plowing the snow from the access driveway, gathering firewood, bait, sticks to cook hot dogs or marshmallows, and repairing all the ice traps for this outing. A couple hours before the children would show up there were other volunteers on the ice to drill the many holes needed for sufficient traps to keep the youngsters busy, there was a fire to build and a portable outhouse to be set up. When the children and Sisters showed up in the vans, everything was ready. In short order the flags were going up and the enjoyable chaos was underway. This is not the first ice fishing trip arranged by the New Hampshire Trappers Association for these children and we learned a few years back to put numbers in a hat for the kids to draw. When the flags go up the number is called out and each kid checks his or her number to see if it is their turn for the fish. This day produced many flags and each kid had multiple strikes to deal with and different chances to pull one in. There was a lot of bragging and awe along with picture taking, yet all the fish were released back into the lake unharmed.
Such a day as we had was a multifaceted experience for these little ones. Some of the kids had been fishing with us before but for many it was their first encounter with a live wild fish through a hole in the ice. Venturing onto a frozen lake was a challenge to overcome fear for some. For others the experience of looking back at a winter shoreline with camps closed for the season and the snow-covered mountains in the background will be their memory. It was all part of the unique first time visually stimulating experience for their young and formative minds. Some were focused on catching the biggest fish while others were infatuated with the bait swimming in the buckets. Some wanted a hand to hold as they walked around for a closer look at trees, big rocks, or other natural objects that were unique or new to young eyes. Luckily this project is so popular with many volunteers that we had sufficient adults present so that each kid was able to get plenty of personal attention. The big open fire infatuated many or perhaps they just enjoyed the warmth that is unique from such a heat source in the open air. Once lunch got started the rest of the day was a blend of fishing, eating, and just running for joy on the big frozen playground. Many hotdogs and marshmallows fell into the fire pit. Should the big ole coon that winters in the cabin nearby take an evening stroll, as they sometimes do, it would be well rewarded. Some got wet feet by stepping in the ice holes and spent quality time with an adult at the fireside, we needed a couple of bandages for small cuts, but nobody messed their pants as the new portable camp commode in a privacy tent was used and useful. Conservation Officer Scott Kennison of NHF&G stopped by and was with us for much of the day. The curious and unabashed youngsters had many questions for him about his badges or the various hardware carried on his belt. Scott was great with the kids and an interesting individual in fireside conversation with our many volunteers who enjoyed his company.
Although the NH Trappers Association coordinates this program and has a small budget for expenses, other clubs and many non-affiliated individuals have pitched in to make this a continuing success. Two clubs that have become regularly involved and provide considerable synergy are Profile Bowman and the Farmington Fish and Game Club. Both of these clubs make their facilities available for open water fishing, which season is just around the corner. Both clubs provide substantially all the volunteers and financial needs for their respective events. The NH Trappers Association will continue to coordinate these activities for the benefit of the St Charles Children and work with other clubs or non-affiliated individuals to put a series of fishing adventures on the calendar for each year. One or two ice fishing trips and three to four open water outings is always the goal. Perhaps you have a nice back yard pond full of trout and would like to make it available for this purpose, maybe your sport club has a fishing pond and is not yet involved, or maybe your business would like to contribute money to buy fish for stocking at a location where these little ones would enjoy catching them. If you want to get involved go to the New Hampshire Trappers Association website at http://www.nhtassoc.org/, and get in touch with us via the Contact NHTA link. Stories about the St Charles Fishing Project can be found on the Public Service Projects page along with pictures of the most recent outing.
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