Kids get hooked at Frenchtown ice fishing day
The annual Kids Ice Fishing Clinic on Frenchtown Pond attracted hundreds of family members registering over 150 anglers on Saturday. The annual event is sponsored by Youth in the Outdoors who supplied all kids with fishing gear that was theirs to keep. The Montana Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife handled the chow and hot beverages. This is an annual event that draws families as far away as Lethbridge, Alberta. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Penelope Tomascak with her grandpa Walt Tomascak from Frenchtown were delighted to be catching perch on Saturday during the annual Kids Fishing Clinic on Frenchtown Pond. The event is sponsored by Youth in the Outdoors each year with over 150 kids participating. (Picture by Kathy Salisbury)
Dylan Connor, 8, and his mom Sandra, drove from St. Regis to participate in the annual Kids Fishing Clinic on Frenchtown Pond last Saturday. They were the first in line to register at 8am with the event starting at 9 and closing at 1. Over 150 kids participated. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
The weather was perfect with a robin’s egg, blue sky day for kids who went ice fishing at Frenchtown Pond on Saturday — many for their first time. The organizers of the event were happy and helpful as over 150 kiddos registered, some as early as 8 a.m.
Steve French, president of Youth in the Outdoors, cuts to the chase when asked what their nonprofit organization does.
“We put on outdoor events for kids,” he said. “Just in Montana and usually around the Missoula,” he adds.
French lives in Potomac and has been in Montana 44 years and he created this kid’s ice fishing clinic 13 years ago. It’s been an annual event at Frenchtown Pond minus one year due to Covid.
“We’re here to make outdoor people,” French chuckles.
“Pike, bass, trout, bluegills, perch. A little bit of everything”, he shares explaining what is swimming under the ice.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks helps the clinic by waving the permit fee since this is for kids and they even stock some of their older breeder trout that are larger a week or so before this day.
There are three members who put this workshop on but French also recruited another dozen volunteers to drill holes and help put maggots and corn on hooks for those that needed assistance.
Another well-marked volunteer walked around taking pictures of fisher-kids with their catch when he was flagged over as all fish were immediately released.
“Everything is volunteer and donated”, French said. Every participant received free of charge whatever they might need for the day, minus an auger. Ice fishing rod, line, hooks, bait, tow sleds, hand warmers, bobbers, swivels, etc. “A lot of places give me a drop-dead discount plus they donate. And some of them give us $5 credit for every $1 we spend in their store. Northwestern Energy gives us a tremendous cash donation,” French explains on how this family event is funded.
This is one of three clinics for kids in the state, French said. There are several derbies that charge an entry fee, but this day is entirely free for participants. Categories were for the biggest fish; boy and girl. Smallest fish; boy and girl. The most fish; boy and girl. There is a forum called ‘ice fishing shanty’ where people can get in touch with French as they don’t have meetings, but the organization somehow stays connected doing fundraising and organizing.
Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife made it crystal clear that they were there to help, but it was the youth in the outdoors event.
“We support these guys by coming in and providing all of the food to feed all the kids and parents. Actually, anyone who comes by is getting fed”, laughs J.R. Strand, president of the organization.
“In past years we’ve fed over 250 people at this event so we don’t know what today’s numbers will be until we clean up.”
Hot dogs, chili, hot chocolate, coffee all hot with steam floating upward. This has been the 6th or 7th year the MTSFW has been involved as the chow-hall for the ice fishing clinic. Maybe the 8th. Nobody knew for sure, but they didn’t care because it’s a heck of a lot of fun for everyone.
“Their efforts are amazing”, said Jeff Darrah, who is the executive director and head hot dog server, as he points to the registration tent where French is set up. “Both of our groups are about getting people outdoors and enjoying all of the opportunities we have,” he said.
Strand wanted to be sure to invite everyone to their huge pig roast in Plains at the Sanders County Fairgrounds on April 23rd so families can visit with the members and find out what they do to put people and wildlife together.
“Next year we are combining this clinic with the Wounded Warriors so they’re going to be out here helping the kids, too”, said French. “This clinic keeps them off the internet and helps them socialize, at least for 1-day. I told them that they do not need their phones out there except for a picture because fish do not text,” grins French.
