NEWS RELEASE
CENTRE FOR FRESHWATER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
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As the Eastern Upper Peninsula inches toward summer, Sault Ste. Marie is preparing to open its Kids Fishing Pond at Rotary Park.
Volunteers from Cloverland Electrical Cooperative, Lake Superior State University, the city of Sault Ste. Marie, and the community plan to have the pond ready to go by the first weekend in June, assisted with funding from the Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau’s non-profit fund, the Sault Area Foundation for Education.
Rainbow trout will be provided for most of the summer from the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery through its fishing initiative that provides fish to groups that promote free and accessible youth fishing opportunities across the state.
“The Jordan River National Fish Hatchery was our main donor in 2021, once again keeping the pond teeming with rainbow trout,” said Roger Greil who, until his recent retirement from LSSU, had been coordinating the pond activities since its inception in 2004. “In 2021, the hatchery stocked an average of 875 fish per month in June, July, August and September. All of the fish were 10-14 in. long.”
According to Megan Thompson, who manages LSSU’s hatchery at the Center for Freshwater Research and Education, the Jordan River hatchery will once again be providing a big boost to the pond.
“We have 2,000 rainbow trout from Jordan River coming in two stockings,” Thompson said. “The first will be right after we install the blocker net, and the second will be the week of July 27, just before the annual Kids Fishing Day on July 30.”
The pond is open to youths aged 16-under, both residents and visitors, and Greil said kids use it daily. Word travels quickly once the pond is stocked.
“Last year, we were putting the net in and kids were pulling up on their bikes waiting to fish,” said Scott Ellis, hydroelectric plant manager with Cloverland Electrical Cooperative. Each year, the Cloverland hydro crew installs the blocker net that creates the pond and keeps fish in it.
In addition to major sponsors, many members of the community help out by donating funds for purchasing fish or prizes for the Connor Gorsuch Kids Fishing Day, held annually on the last Saturday in July. The event is held from 9 a.m.-noon, rain or shine, and everything -- bait, food, drinks, prizes -- is available free for kids. In 2021, in spite of rain, more than 160 kids fished in the event.
“Just as we wouldn’t be able to have a pond without those who donate fish, we couldn’t have the Kids Fishing Day without those individuals and businesses in the community who donate their time and more. We have had people involved with this annual event since it began,” Greil said.
The Sault Ste. Marie Kids Fishing Pond was created by the now-defunct Soo Area Sportsmen’s Club, city of Sault Ste. Marie, Cloverland Electric Cooperative and Lake Superior State University by placing a blocking net in an oxbow of the St. Mary’s River, keeping fish in the enclosure. When the Soo Area Sportsmen’s Club dissolved, a few of its members approached Linda Hoath, director of the Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau, with the idea of working together to keep the pond open.
“Thankfully, the CVB was able to step in to ensure the pond and events continue to be supported through its Sault Area Foundation for Education (SAFE),” Greil said.
SAFE is a 501C3 foundation (tax ID 46-0739920) with the CVB that can accept and distribute funds for the pond and associated maintenance. A committee of volunteers oversees management of the pond and events.
“We’re thankful each year that our youth have a place to fish and our community has another activity that encourages family involvement.” Greil said. “But in spite of the incredible support we have, we can always use more help.”
Anyone interested in donating funds, or finding out more about the pond and how they can help, should contact the Sault Area Foundation for Education, P.O. Box 1000, or 225 E. Portage Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 49783, or call Thompson at 906-635-1949.
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