Kids get hooked on fishing pond

Laura Young brought her children to Carson City's Urban Fishing Pond on Saturday, including her 2-year-old daughter, Jessie who nabbed a nine-inch trout.

"This is her first time fishing," Young said, holding the fish from a rope as it continued to thrash its tail.

Jessie had just one comment about her first fish: "Catch another one?"

Dozens of people gathered around the one-acre fishing pond on Saturday as part of Kids Fishing Day hosted by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Carson City Host Lions Club, and the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department.

After a brief battle to lure it to the shore, Duel Cobb, 11, hoisted an 18-inch, 2-pound fish out of the pond on Saturday.

"It's pretty good," Cobb said.

Tim Kosier, Cobb's mentor through the Big Brother Big Sister program, snapped a photo of Cobb as he held up the fish.

"That's got to be the biggest fish you've ever caught in your life, is that correct? Kosier said. "Look at the grin, that's a guarantee."

Organizers also hosted a dedication ceremony for the fishing pond at 9 a.m.

Local conservation activist Kevin "C.K." Baily, who rallied dozens of people and organizations over the past decade to create the fishing pond, said about 100 people watched the event.

"This thing is unbelievable," Baily said. "To have this many people at a fishing pond in Carson City, it's just stunning."

Baily said the process to open the fishing pond was not easy, but with the help of numerous public and private partnerships it finally opened in September.

"Dreams really do come true if you don't give up," Baily said. "All these people came together, individual people and businesses, came together for this one acre pond. It's a community partnership."

Ken Mayer, the director of the state wildlife department, said securing the water rights for the pond took work, but was happy to see dozens of children catching fish at the pond.

"It's just perseverance," Mayer said.

Mark Warren, the chief of fisheries for the wildlife department, said the pond will be stocked in the spring and fall. The pond currently has about 1,400 trout from a state and private hatchery.

"Hopefully they get hooked on fishing, no pun intended, and they go to other places around the state - we have 600 streams in Nevada," Warren said.

David Navarro, 40, took his two boys to the fishing pond on Saturday. Kyle Navarro, 8, said he and his brother had caught three fish.

"It's really fun," Kyle said.

David added, "It's fun, it's good for the kids. I enjoy taking my kids fishing ... we'll probably make this a ritual to come out here a lot."