Kids Fishing Class ‘A Huge Success’

August 23, 2012 Contributor
Fulton's Becky Devendorf holding a sunfish son Reid caught during the August 18 kids fishing class at Lake Neatahwantha.
Fulton’s Becky Devendorf holding a sunfish son, Reid, caught during the Aug. 18 kids fishing class at Lake Neatahwantha. Photo by Ray Hrynyk

By Spider Rybaak
FULTON, NY – A kids fishing class held jointly by local fishing author Spider Rybaak and McGrath & Associates Carp Angling Services on Aug. 18 drew a field of 22 children to Lake Neahtahwanta on Fulton’s west side.

McGrath showing a student what a carp looks like up close and personal.
Mike McGrath showing a student what a carp looks like up close and personal. Photo by Ray Hrynyk

Mike McGrath, the most knowledgeable carp expert on the East Coast, held several children and their guardians captive for an hour, explaining and demonstrating carp subjects ranging from knots and terminal tackle to habitat preferences, mixing chum (grains, syrups and Marukyu Japanese bait) and seeding it into the water to draw the fish close to shore.

After his course in theory, McGrath led the kids to a spot on the lake, cast out several lines and began catching carp ranging from 7 to 15 pounds and a couple channel catfish running from 4 to 8 pounds.

Meanwhile, Spider was teaching kids how to fish with lures (Berkley PowerBaits) and worms.

Oswego's John Niger and sons Alex and Jim pose with a bluegill his older son caught on a Berkley PowerBait Atomic Teaser, the boy's first fish on an artificial lure.
Oswego’s John Niger and sons, Alex and Jim, pose with a bluegill his older son caught on a Berkley PowerBait Atomic Teaser, the boy’s first fish on an artificial lure. Photo by Ray Hrynyk

Nightcrawlers were the bait of choice in the beginning, but the supply ran out after a couple hours and the students began using the Atomic Teasers, Ripple Shad and Honey Worm PowerBaits Spider handed out earlier, catching some nice bluegills and white perch on the popular Berkley lures.

Loaner Shakespeare Classic rod and reel combos were available for the day for kids who didn’t have their own fishing equipment.

Spider and McGrath will hold another fishing class on Lake Neahtahwanta, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

For more information, contact McGrath: [email protected] or 315-882-1549.

McGrath Associate "Animal" (left) holding a large catfish hooked by Fulton's Rebecca Bailey (center) and reeled in by Jakob Burghardt, also of Fulton.
McGrath Associate “Animal” (left) holding a large catfish hooked by Fulton’s Rebecca Bailey (center) and reeled in by Jakob Burghardt, also of Fulton. Photo by Ray Hrynyk

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