Good Fun, Food and Fishing at the Potholes C.A.S.T. Event

Written by: Jaurette Jackson

Participant proudly holds up her catch from the 2015 Potholes State Park C.A.S.T. EventEarly on Saturday morning, August 1st, Potholes State Park began to fill with boats, captains, co-captains, and volunteers for the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation event in which participants come to share in the highlight of the day...Fishing!

Captains from the Potholes Bass and Columbia Basin Walleye clubs, as well as volunteers from the military, Bureau of Reclamation, Reclamation family members and C.A.S.T. staff were busy from the moment they arrived. They were filled with excitement and ready to share their knowledge and skills with the young "anglers."

Regretfully, there were wildfires in surrounding areas that made the air quality poor and visibility often difficult. However, the participants knew this event was going to be something special to remember.

When the young participants arrived, there were hats, tee-shirts, life vests, tackle boxes, and fishing poles ready to go. Such a fishing event is meant to be fun and safe so volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians from the Royal Slope Fire District #12 ensured all safety procedures were followed and assisted as needed. This year's participants ranged in age from 5 to 22. When the time came to board the boats, participants with their parent or guardian posed for pictures before getting onboard. More and more participants "climbed aboard" until all were holding poles over the side of the boats, waiting to catch the "big one." As one captain put it, "the kids just love to ride on the boat and spend time on the water; catching just one fish, or catching the legal limit is what makes the day even more special."

Two hours later, after all the fishing excitement, a delicious barbecue meal donated by People for People was served. The Columbia Basin Job Corps Culinary Arts students, led by Theresa Clement, Culinary Arts Instructor, served all the participants and volunteers with a smile and graciousness.

At the end of the event, one of the boat captains exclaimed that he wouldn't miss this event and he looks forward to participating every year and seeing his favorite angler. You see, it is not just about the experience for the captains, volunteers and young fishing participants; it is also about the relationships created and sometimes renewed, as well as having fun for the day on the reservoir. That is exactly what this C.A.S.T. event was all about; fun, food, fishing and relationships.

Published on August 18, 2015