Little Warriors battle to land biggest trout

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The bright sunshine glimmered off the water while roughly 30 bobbers skimmed the surface of the pond at Pow Wow Park Saturday. 

Children anxiously cast their lines out to catch the biggest fish of the day during the 2nd Annual Kid's Fishing Day, where more than 100 people spent the morning fishing for rainbow trout and the grand prize - a fully-stocked tackle box. 

"The event gets all members of the base involved and it's a lot of family fun," said 2nd Lt. Chrystal Brown, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources manager and event organizer. "We had the pond stocked with 200 rainbow trout in various sizes; 50 are guaranteed to be in the 6- to 8- pound range." 

The first catch of the day was from Little Warrior Kaitlyn, 5, who caught a half-pound trout.
"I started fishing when I was 3," Kaitlyn said, "I like fishing because I catch fish." 

Little Warrior Morgan, 9, said she attended the event last year and was eager to catch more fish this year. 

"I like fishing because I get to hang out with my mom and dad," Morgan said.
Later that morning, Morgan caught a quarter-pound trout that her dad gingerly released back into the pond. 

Lieutenant Brown said her team has been renovating the pond for years to make it a self-sustaining habitat. That means they will no longer have to get their fish from the local fish hatcheries. 

The fishpond is stocked annually with more than 700 rainbow trout and next year they will introduce brown trout. 

Fishing for the biggest trout was first and foremost on the minds of all anglers who attended the event. However, Little Warrior Marion, 10, a second-time derby participant, said all he caught, so far, was a piece of wood. 

This year's fishing derby winners are:
1st place: Little Warrior Stephen, 3 1/2 pounds
2nd place: Little Warrior Ashleigh, 2 pounds
3rd place: Little Warrior Brandy, 1 3/4 pounds
4th place: Little Warrior Cody, 1 pound
5th place: Three-way tie at 3/4 pound
Little Warrior Tyler
Little Warrior Jakob
Little Warrior Migel 

First and second place winners received a fully-stocked tackle box, while third, fourth and fifth place winners got a choice of child's fishing pole or small assortment of fishing tackle. Prizes were courtesy of the 341st Services Squadron.