Handicapped Fish Day is a success

The Chicaqua Chapter of the Izaak Walton League hosted a day of fishing Wednesday for local handicapped people. The fishermen dropped their lines at a pond at Marr Park. After a few hours on the water, the group gathered in a nearby shelter for lunch.

Handicapped Fish Day began decades ago. Vice President of the Chicaqua Chapter Denny Sorrell has been in the organization for nearly 30 years, and he said the first fish day predates his involvement.

The Izaak Walton League provides the bait, poles and the necessary set-up. The league provides poles made of bamboo which are called ?cane poles.? The league has accumulated 50 poles over the years.

Sorrell said the fish day has fewer attendees than it did years ago when a group of people from Iowa City came to visit. Park Ranger Bob Bellmer counted 30 people fishing at Wednesday?s event. Bellmer caught the worms the fishermen use as bait.

?This is our group?s main event,? said Sorrell. ?These people really look forward to it, too. They love coming here to fish. They love even the anticipation of catching a fish. They really get excited when they do catch one.?

The handicapped individuals eat in the shelter by the lake. Sorrell said the shelter gets crowded so the volunteers eat outside.

The league gives away prizes to those who catch fish and certificates and coupons to everyone who participates.

Pat Hartsock works as a supervisor at Washington County Development Center (WCDC). She was responsible for organizing the lunch by lining up donations from various businesses and agencies. Sorrell has nothing but adulation for Hartsock.

?Without her, we couldn?t do this,? he said. ?It?s hard to find volunteers to donate food. Most of the food is donated. We have to buy some of it.?

Hartsock explained that the people at the fish day came not just from WCDC but also from Optimae LifeServices, Systems Unlimited and from private homes.

?Some live in a group home and others live with their parents or guardians,? said Hartsock.

Hartsock said the handicapped people can?t wait to get to the pond. Fish day is something they talk about incessantly.

?As soon as fish day is over, they?ll talk about next year?s fish day,? said Hartsock. ?Catching a fish or even a frog makes their day. One year, someone caught a turtle. They get so excited because they actually fished and caught something.?

Hartsock said many of the people at fish day enjoy being outdoors.

?They like to sit outside on our patio at work,? she said. ?A lot of them who came from our workshop brought their own fishing poles and tackle boxes. They came prepared.?